Author name: WAB

The Dhaka Premier Division Women’s Cricket League 2024-25 commenced with an opening ceremony at SBNCS, Mirpur-12, Dhaka. The event was graced by notable attendees, including Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, Director of BCB and Chairman of the Women’s Wing; Mahbubul Anam, Director of BCB and Chairman of the Grounds Committee; Kazi Habibul Bashar, Head of the Women’s Wing; Sarwar Imran, Head Coach of the Bangladesh Women’s National Cricket Team; and Syed Abdul Baten, Senior Manager of Grounds & Facilities. The tournament’s inaugural match featured Mohammedan Sporting Club Ltd facing Sheltech Cricket Academy.

Ritu Moni’s incredible resilience pulled off a miraculous win for Bangladesh to make it two wins from two games at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier. Bangladesh were left tottering afte Ireland kept striking at regular intervals to disrupt their batting in chase of 236. But, Moni’s indomitable fighting spirit, combined with a superb half-century from Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana Joty got them over the line in thrilling fashion by two wickets in a chase for the ages. Opting to bat first in the second game of the day, Ireland suffered an early blow when opener Sarah Forbes was run out in the fourth over, giving Bangladesh an early breakthrough. However, Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter steadied the innings with a solid 50-run partnership. The stand was broken when Lewis was dismissed via a sharp caught-and-bowled effort by Jannatul Ferdus. Hunter followed soon after, also falling to a run-out, which gave Bangladesh a brief upper hand. Laura Delany then joined Orla Prendergast at the crease, and the pair put together a fluent 72-run stand—the highest of the innings. Prendergast was eventually trapped LBW by Rabeya Khan, while Delany played a composed innings, scoring 63 off 75 balls before being stumped off the bowling of Fahima Khatun. Some useful lower-order contributions and small partnerships pushed Ireland to a competitive total of 235/8 at the end of their innings. Rabeya Khan and Fahima Khatun were the standout performers with the ball for Bangladesh, claiming three and two wickets respectively. Bangladesh had a shaky start to their run chase, with Orla Prendergast striking early to remove both openers in quick succession, leaving them reeling at 2/2. Sharmin Akhter and captain Nigar Sultana Joty then steadied the innings with a crucial 52-run partnership. However, just as things began to settle, Laura Delany broke through by dismissing Sharmin Akhter, reducing Bangladesh to 54/3. With wickets tumbling at one end, skipper Joty held her guard, helping herself to a brilliant half-century that steadied the Bangladesh innings, before falling eventually for 51 off 68. Fahima Khatun and Janntul Ferdus amassed 28 and 19 respectively, but Ritu Moni’s resilient maiden half-century, making 67* off 61 took Bangladesh over the line with two wickets to spare in a thriller in Lahore. Moni, alongside Nahida Akter (18*) stitched together a match-winning 54-run stand for the ninth wicket, helping Bangladesh to their highest-successful chase in Women’s ODIs. Following the loss, Ireland have been knocked out of the tournament with three losses in three games.

Bangladesh made it three wins from as many matches at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier with a 34-run win over Scotland. Nigar Sultana Joty’s rapid and unbeaten 83 was backed up by four wickets for Nahida Akter as Bangladesh joined Pakistan on six points, leapfrogging the hosts at the summit on net run rate. In the day’s other fixture, Ireland got off the mark for the competition with a 46-run win over Thailand, Louise Little starring with five wickets. Bangladesh lost Ishma Tanjim (14) early, but Fargana Hoque and Sharmin Akhter laid the foundation for a strong total, both scoring patient scores of 57 before falling in quick succession. The stage was left clear for the in-form Joty to dominate the death overs, the skipper finished unbeaten on 83 from 59 deliveries to add to her scores of 101 against Thailand and 51 against Ireland. Fahima Khatun chipped in with a valuable 26 from 22 balls as Bangladesh lifted themselves to 276 for six. Kathryn Bryce was the pick of the Scotland attack with two for 53. Marufa Akter and Nahida Akter combined to reduce Scotland to 31 for three in their reply, Nahida claimed the key wicket of skipper Bryce, who was bowled out for five. Her sister, wicketkeeper Sarah Bryce, picked up the mantle and compiled a busy 42 before chipping a return catch back to Jannatul Ferdus to leave her side 102 for six. That soon became 110 for seven but Priyanaz Chatterji and Rachel Slater showed admirable resilience over the course of their 115-run stand for the eighth wicket, which was ended when Chatterji was stumped off the bowling of Nahida for 61. Slater returned unbeaten for 63 as Scotland finished 34 runs short, Nahida ending with four for 40 as her side consolidated their place alongside Pakistan in the top two.