Ayasha, Rumana give Bangladesh 1-0 lead against Zimbabwe

Bangladesh women team opener Ayasha Rahman’s fifty and three wickets from leg-spinner Rumana Ahmed sealed a 35-run win for the team against Zimbabwe Women in the first T20 in Cox's Bazar today.

Put in to bat, Bangladesh saw a solid opening stand of 76 in 13.4 overs between Ayasha and Sharmin Akhter before their innings saw three run-outs. Sharmin was the first one to fall for a 45-ball 35 before Fargana Hoque joined Ayasha. The duo upped the run rate by scoring 49 runs off 37 balls to take them to 125. Ayasha (50) and Ritu Moni were then run out on the last two balls of the innings, and Fargana was unbeaten on 32 off 21.

None of the Zimbabwean bowlers managed to capture a wicket, but the fielders responded with three run-outs to stall Bangladesh’s progress. Precious Marange was the most economical bowler among her teammates, gave away only 23 runs in four overs.

Zimbabwe started losing wickets from the fifth over onwards after a slow start. Rumana dismissed the openers in consecutive overs before Sharne Mayers and Pellagia Mujaji stalled the fall of wickets for 6.4 overs but scored only 29 runs together. Once that stand was also broken by a run out, in the 14th over, Zimbabwe started losing wickets in a heap. Rumana struck again to finish with 3 for 11 from four overs and the visitors saw their last four wickets fall for ten runs in 12 balls as the asking rate shot over 16 runs per over.

Sharne Mayers was the highest scorer for her team with 29 runs. She played 41 balls and struck a four and six in her watchful knock, but failed to break the shackles when required.

Brief score: Bangladesh Women 125 for 3 (Ayasha 50, Sharmin 35, Fargana 32*)

 Zimbabwe Women 90 for 8 (Mayers 29, Rumana 3-11)