Bangladesh Skipper Nigar Sultana Elated After Win Over India Women in First ODI
Bangladesh players celebrate an Indian wicket (Twitter)
Bangladesh Women captain Nigar Sultana has hailed her team after they defeated a strong Indian outfit in the series-opening first ODI in Mirpur.
Despite managing just 152 upfront, hosts restricted India Women to 113 to script a 40-run win in a 44-over rain-curtailed game. Bangladesh pacer Marufa Akter snared four wickets in her seven-over spell and was fittingly adjudged as the 'Player of the Match'.
Captain Sultana has described her side's win as a huge achievement, considering it marked their first-ever victory over India in ODIs.
Sultana wants to “create a little more history” going ahead
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana has acknowledged the historical significance of her side's win over the visiting Indian Women's team. Prior to their Sunday clash, the two sides had faced each other in five ODIs, with Team India prevailing in all five of them.
After the match, Sultana stated that the Bangladeshi team is very happy in securing the ODI win, and hoped for even better results for her team’s future. She said:
“We are very happy winning an ODI after a long time. It is a huge achievement for the team. It will help us play much better in the future. We have defeated India after a long time. Plus, it happened in Mirpur. It is definitely part of history. We want to create a little more history.”
The wicketkeeper-captain added that their game plan was to take early Indian wickets. She emphasised the importance of Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur's early dismissals and praised her bowler Marufa Akter for providing the team with crucial breakthroughs throughout the match.
“We wanted to take early wickets. Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur are their key batters. When we got them out, the rest of their batters couldn't quite do the job.”
“Marufa Akter bowls well with the new ball and later in the middle overs. She doesn't think about her bowling too much. She wants to bowl to the team's requirement. She backs her own strength.”
Bangladesh Women will now face their Indian counterparts in the second ODI on July 19. A win here would seal the series in their favour, thus scripting a huge upset over a strong Indian team.
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