Bangladesh 152 (Niger 39, Fargana 27, Amanjot 4-31) lost India 113 (Deepti 20, Marufa 4-29, Rabeya 3-30) by DLS method for 40 runs
The theme of low-scoring matches in the T20I series carried over into the opening ODI in Mirpur, Bangladesh’s first win over India in the fifty-over format. While it was the Bangladesh spinners who troubled India in the T20Is, the fiery Marufa Akhtar proved too hot to handle in the first ODI as India were bowled out for 113 and lost by 40 runs.
Marufa took four wickets in his first ODI in Bangladesh, twice with the new ball and twice in successive deliveries in the middle overs. She dazzled India with her high pace and movement to break the back of the chase and register her best performance in international cricket. Legspinner Rabeya Khan then broke the chase with three middle-order wickets.
This was after Amanjot Kaur took four wickets on her ODI debut to restrict Bangladesh to 152 in a blanket situation.
Chasing a revised target of 154 as rain hit Bangladesh’s innings, India fired Smriti Mandana Marufa through midwicket for fine boundaries in back-to-back overs. But soon, Mandana was caught thanks to a full-stretch dive by wicketkeeper Nigar Sultana. Priya Punia, playing her first ODI since March 2021, took 27 balls for ten balls before flicking one off Marufa to mid-on, where Murshida Khatun raced in and took a diving catch.
While Marufa was picking up the pace from one end, Niger Sultana kept spinning the spinners from the other end to keep India under pressure. Left-arm spinner Nahida Akhtar trapped Harmanpreet Kaur lbw off a single ball to take India to 37 for 3 in ten overs at backward point. Soon after, Rabia struck twice – first by bowling Yastika Bhatia and then by dropping Jemima Rodriguez. The surface slowed as Rodriguez pulled early and skied a catch to mid-on.
Later Deepti Sharma along with Amanjot raised hopes for India. In Amanjot’s T20I debut – where she was the player of the match – the pair stitched together what eventually turned out to be a match-winning partnership. On Sunday, both looked at ease and rotated strike to keep the scorecard ticking. She took 71 balls for a 30-run partnership with Amanjot using the sweep and doing well against the low bounce.
But Sultana Marufa was brought back. Amanjot looked to slice a full ball and was adjudged caught behind – she was not happy and chatted with the on-field umpire as she walked back. From 91 for 5, India were reduced to 91 for 8, with Marufa first dropping Sneh Rana with an in-dipping full ball before Deepti pulled a shortish delivery to Rabeya’s mid-wicket.
Bangladesh tightened its screws to dismiss Pooja Vastrakar and B Anusha, who took a controversial catch decision, signaling an all-evening celebration in Mirpur.
Earlier, a wet outfield toss was delayed by 20 minutes and the start of the game by ten minutes due to early morning rain. A horrendous mix-up following a slow start saw Sharmin Actor run out as he returned for a duck on 18 balls. Murshida was dismissed by Amanjot in the next over and Fargana Hoque and Sultana led the resurgence either side of a long spell of rain. The duo added 49 runs for the third wicket but 52 of the 74 balls in this partnership were dot balls, allowing the Indian bowlers to dictate the terms. Sultana and Fergana were able to find the boundary regularly before the rain break but that was not the case on the restart.
As a result, Fargana fell behind trying to force pace against Amanjot’s length ball. Soon after, Ritu Moni mistimed a pull off Devika Vaidya’s legspin and fell to a brilliant catch by Rodriguez at mid-wicket. But Sultana got the scorecard moving before missing a flick that was trapped lbw. Amanjot completed his four runs when Rabeya chipped one to cover.
A 26-run partnership between Fahima Khatoon and Sultana Khatoon pushed Bangladesh to 150 after the Shorna actor was injured on his ODI debut. A big total of 19 wides also helped the cause as Bangladesh’s 152 proved to be enough in a slow-burner.
S Sudarshanan is a sub-editor at ESPNcriinfo