Image Credit- BCB
Bangladesh survived their three-match ODI series
against Pakistan thanks to a tight Super-Over victory at the Shere Bangla
National Stadium. With the bat, Bangladesh’s captain Nigar Sultana was the
match-winner, recording the lone half-century of the innings before striking
the winning boundary in the Super Over.
Bangladesh needed two off the final delivery to win
the one-over eliminator, needing to chase eight runs. Sultana was on strike for
the first time after Nashra Sandhu’s bowling had stumped Sobhana Mostary. With
the third and final ODI scheduled on Friday, Sultana ventured out and lofted
Sandhu over mid-off for four, tying the series score at one.
Bangladesh, having elected to bat first, were
comfortably ahead at 92 for 2 in the thirty-second over after Fargana Hoque and
Sultana had put up 49 for the third wicket. However, Hoque’s run-out dismissal
caused Bangladesh to collapse, losing seven wickets in the final 18.1 overs of
their innings while managing just 77 runs. Sultana made 54 off 104 balls when
he was ninth out in the last over. With two wickets apiece, left-arm spinners
Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal were Pakistan’s most effective bowlers.
With 41 put on by Sadaf Shamas and Sidra Ameen,
Pakistan’s pursuit got off to a great start, but both openers fell in the 20s.
It was a precursor of things to come: although Bangladesh chipped away at the
wickets, spearheaded by legspinner Rabeya Khan with 3 for 29, five Pakistani
batters reached the 20s but none reached 30.
In a close encounter, Pakistan was bowled out in 49.5
overs and lost both of their Super-Over wickets with one ball remaining, while
Bangladesh batted through their 50 overs and all six balls of their Super Over.
After Sandhu was run out while attempting to take the winning single in, the
match went into a tiebreaker.