ICC Women’s WC qualifier BD ease past USA, Sharmin hits ton

Sports Reporter :
A superb unbeaten 130 runs scored by Sharmin Akhter powered Bangladesh Women’s Cricket team to ease past the United States of America (USA) by 270 runs in their match of the ICC Women’s World Cup qualifier at Harare in Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
Sharmin Akhter struck 11 fours in her 141-ball innings. It is for the first time that, a Bangladeshi female cricketer hit a century in ODI match.
Sent into bat first, Bangladesh piled up a mammoth total of 322 for the loss of five wickets in the stipulated 50 overs and then dismissed the USA for just 52 off 30.3 overs.
Bangladesh made a formidable start with two openers Sharmin Akhter and Murshida Khatun put on together 96 runs before Murshida was bowled by Mahika Kandanala.
Murshida made 47 from 56 balls featuring five fours.
After Murshida’s departure, Sharmin and Nigar Sultana added together 48 runs in the second wicket stand before Nigar was run out by Gargi Bhogle when Bangladesh’s score was 144 for the loss of two wickets.
Nigar scored 33 from 26 deliveries including five fours. After Nigar’s dismissal, Sharmin and Fargana Haque built a worthy partnership. They scored together 137 runs before Fargana was caught by Gargi Bhogle off Geetika Kodali when Bangladesh’s total was 281 for the loss of three wickets.
Fargana hit a polished 67. His 62-ball knock had six fours. Lata Mondal remained unbeaten with 17 runs.
Moksha Chaudhary got two wickets conceding 64 runs.
Mahika Kandanala and Geetika Kodali took one wicket each for 34 and 53 runs respectively.
Later, Tara Norris and Sindhu Sriharshsha were the two batters of the USA who could reach double digit figures scoring 16 and 15 runs respectively.
Fahima Khatun, Salma Khatun and Rumana Ahmed bagged two wickets each instead of five, 10 and 11 runs respectively.
Besides, Jahanara Alam took one wicket for 15 runs.