Bangladesh opened their 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup campaign in commanding fashion, defeating Pakistan by seven wickets with nearly 19 overs to spare in Colombo on Thursday. It was a performance built on sharp bowling and calm batting, setting the tone for their tournament ambitions.
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The day belonged first to the bowlers. Lone seamer Marufa Akter stunned Pakistan with a double strike in her very first over, dismissing two batters in successive deliveries to hand Bangladesh immediate control. Her early breakthroughs left Pakistan rattled, and from that point onward, they struggled to recover against Bangladesh’s spin-heavy attack.
With the pacer setting the stage, the spinners took over seamlessly. Left-arm spinner Nahida Akter tightened the noose by striking twice in quick succession, reducing Pakistan to 47-4 inside 14 overs. The pressure only mounted as leg-spinner Shorna Akter entered the fray. Delivering with pinpoint accuracy, she ran through the lower order in spectacular fashion, finishing with figures of 3-5 from just 3.3 overs. Incredibly, her first three overs yielded no runs at all, underscoring her dominance on the sluggish Colombo pitch.
Pakistan’s batting display lacked resilience, with only two players managing to cross 20 runs. Their inability to adapt to the surface was evident, and constant pressure from Bangladesh’s disciplined attack meant they never stitched together meaningful partnerships. The final total of 129 looked inadequate from the outset, especially given the conditions and Bangladesh’s strong batting lineup.
In contrast, Bangladesh’s chase was a masterclass in composure. Making her World Cup debut, opener Rubya Haider announced herself with a fluent unbeaten half-century. Displaying maturity beyond her years, she anchored the innings with a series of elegant cut shots, frequently finding gaps between point and cover. Confident square of the wicket and avoiding risky aerial strokes, Rubya guided the side to victory without fuss. Her calm approach ensured Bangladesh never felt pressure during the chase, underlining her potential as a rising star in international cricket.
Supporting her at the other end, the Bangladeshi batters rotated strike effectively, keeping the scoreboard ticking and denying Pakistan’s bowlers any chance of a comeback. The only bowler who posed a genuine threat was Diana Baig. The experienced seamer, also a dual international having represented Pakistan in football, troubled the batters with her late inswingers. However, without runs on the board, her efforts could not change the outcome.
Speaking after the match, Marufa Akter credited the team’s collective spirit and preparation for their commanding win. “We are thrilled to get a win under our belt in our first outing,” she said. “There was a lot of support from my teammates, and special credit goes to our team analyst who gave me valuable input before the game. We showed a lot of energy in the field, and there are many positives to take forward.”
For Pakistan, captain Fatima Sana acknowledged the shortcomings and urged her young squad to learn quickly. “We just lost too many wickets early on and never recovered,” she admitted. “We need to put this defeat behind us and bounce back stronger. Many of our players are very young, and for them this World Cup is their first big tournament. Hopefully, they will learn from these mistakes.”
Bangladesh’s emphatic win not only boosts their confidence but also sends a clear message to other teams in the competition. With a strong bowling unit and promising young batters, they appear well-equipped to challenge the best on the global stage. Pakistan, meanwhile, face the urgent task of regrouping and adapting to the conditions in Colombo, where all their group matches are scheduled.
