“Bangladesh rewrote the record they set in their first match of the World Cup qualifiers.”
Before stepping onto the field, Nigar Sultana received the delightful news of achieving her career-best ICC ranking. And she didn’t disappoint once the match began. Taking command at the crease, she delivered a blistering knock. Thanks to her powerful innings, Bangladesh reached a record-high team total.
Nigar has been in flying form since the start of the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers. After opening the tournament with a destructive century, she followed it up with a near-fifty in the second game. Maintaining her momentum, the experienced batter smashed an unbeaten 83 off just 59 balls against Scotland on Tuesday.
At Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Nigar was well-supported by two fellow senior batters — Fargana Hoque and Sharmin Akhter — both of whom also struck half-centuries. As a result, Bangladesh posted 276 runs in their 50 overs, the highest team total in the nation’s women’s ODI history.
“In the tournament opener against Ireland, Nigar’s fiery hundred and fifties from Fargana and Sharmin had helped Bangladesh score 271 runs. Just one match later, they broke that record.”
In that opening game, Nigar hammered 101 off 80 balls. In the second match, she scored 51 off 68 balls in a thrilling chase. This time, she remained unbeaten on 83 from 59 balls, hitting 11 boundaries.
With this knock, she became only the second Bangladeshi batter to score three consecutive 50+ innings in this format. The first was Fargana Hoque, who did it last year in a home series against Ireland.
Fargana continues her excellent run in the current qualifiers, already scoring two fifties in three matches. Sharmin has matched that feat as well, scoring two 50+ innings in three games.
Bangladesh lost opener Ishma Tanzim early after choosing to bat first, but the team recovered with a solid 103-run partnership between Fargana and Sharmin — just like their 104-run stand in the first game.
That was their fourth century partnership — the most by any Bangladeshi pair in ODIs. They also set another milestone by becoming the first Bangladeshi duo to combine for over 1,000 ODI partnership runs.
Fargana reached her 15th career fifty, scoring 57 off 84 balls with six fours, before getting dismissed. Sharmin also made 57, hitting seven boundaries in her 59-ball stay.
After quick dismissals of Sobhana Mostary and Ritu Moni, Nigar took full responsibility. She reached her 10th career fifty in just 39 balls and then forged a 61-run partnership off 44 balls with Fahima Khatun. Fahima contributed 26 from 22 balls.
Nigar’s explosive innings came at a strike rate of 140.67 — a record in itself.
“This is the fastest fifty-plus score by any Bangladeshi batter in ODI history.”
