Bangladesh women’s team skipper Nigar Sultana believed that the breathtaking third and final one-day international against their Indian counterparts at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday would provide them with a huge experience when they take on the other sides in the upcoming days.
Host Bangladesh and touring India shared the three-match ODI trophy after the deciding third tie ended in a dramatic tie.
With India needing one run off the last three balls to chase down a humble 225-4, Marufa Akter got No. 11 Meghna Singh caught behind, leaving Jemimah Rodrigues, who had held the second half of the hunt together with 33 off 45 balls, stranded.
‘Obviously, it was a great match, getting great experience. It will help us, when we won the toss; we wanted to put on 230 runs, happy Pinky got a century, said Nigar in the post-match presentation in Mirpur.
However, the home captain rued their total, believing that they lacked 5–10 runs that would be feasible to clinch their maiden ODI series against the defending Asian champions.
‘At the end of day, we always think we are short of 5-10 runs.’
The 25-year-old further lauded her fellow teammates for their tough fight against the mighty side.
‘The way the girls fought, it was unbelievable. After the break, we were talking about the two ways the game would go - either we will go hard on them or they will.’
She particularly praised the left-arm spinner Nahida Akter due to her ragging bowling attack [3–37] that made the tourists suffer an appalling batting collapse, losing their last six wickets for just 34 runs with three balls to spare and bowling them out for 225.
‘Nahida bowled really well. To all the bowlers, it was an excellent performance.’
Nigar also vowed to endure the momentum in the coming days.
‘We are looking forward to carrying this moment. As a batting unit we collapse usually, but from here, we can have many takeaways moving forward. Crows have been amazing throughout the tournament.’
Meanwhile, Fargana Hoque, who smacked the first ever ODI hundred [107 off 160] for the Bangladesh women's team that eventually paved the way for the hosts to post their second highest ODI total of 225-4, revealed that she was greatly motivated by her fellow team members to achieve the feat.
‘At the start of the tournament I felt I was in good flow and I was getting off to good starts. All my team-mates always say if someone will score a century, it will be Pinky [her nickname].’
The 30-year-old opener also asserted that team always comes first to her before her individual goals.
‘My hundred didn't matter, the team getting runs was important. I was just playing from ball to ball. I love to bat. It was a great opportunity for me so I was just very happy to take it.’
