Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by 23 runs in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 fixture on Saturday, extending the Green Shirts’ winless run in the tournament to three matches.
Set to chase a modest 124-run target, the Green Shirts could accumulate 100/8 in their 20 overs despite a formidable start due to an astounding collapse, which saw them lose seven wickets for 39 runs in 58 deliveries.
Pakistan got off to a decent start to their pursuit as openers Gull Feroza and Muneeba Ali registered a 49-run partnership until Nahida Akter dismissed the former on the third delivery of the eighth over.
Feroza remained a notable run-getter for Pakistan with an 18-ball 23, comprising four fours.
Nahida struck again in her next over, dismissing another opener, Muneeba Ali, who walked back after top-scoring with a cautious 25 off 30 deliveries with the help of one six and a four.
Her dismissal triggered a collapse as Pakistan lost six more wickets for just 26 runs in 47 deliveries and consequently slipped to 84/8 in 17.1 overs.
Although tailenders Nashra Sandhu (nine) and Tasmia Rubab (seven) contributed 16 runs to their total at the backend, their efforts were insufficient to pull off a miraculous victory.
Nahida and Sanjida co-led Bangladesh’s bowling charge with three wickets each, while Rabeya Khan and Ritu Moni chipped in with one scalp apiece.
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana’s decision to bat first backfired as they could muster 123/6 in their 20 overs despite her gutsy knock and Shorna Akter’s late blitz.
Bangladesh got off to a dismal start to their innings as Pakistan captain Fatima Sana struck twice in the second over, dismissing opener Dilara Akter (five) and top-order batter Sharmin Akter (zero), respectively.
Tasmia Rubab inflicted another blow on Bangladesh by getting rid of the other opener, Juairiya Ferdous (five) and thus brought the total down to 13/3.
Following the disastrous start, Sobhana Mostary joined captain Sultana in the middle, and the duo batted cautiously under pressure to raise an important 35-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Nashra Sandhu eventually broke the budding partnership on the second delivery of the 10th over by dismissing Mostary, who walked back after scoring a 19-ball 22 with the help of three fours.
Sultana was then involved in two brief partnerships with Ritu Moni (seven) and Shorna until eventually falling victim to Sadia Iqbal on the first delivery of the 18th over. She walked back after top-scoring for Bangladesh with a cautious 36 off 38 deliveries, comprising five fours.
Following her departure, Shorna added valuable runs to Bangladesh’s total at the backend with a blistering 39-run unbeaten cameo, which came off 22 deliveries and featured five fours.
Captain Fatima was the standout bowler for Pakistan as she picked up two wickets for just 18 runs in her four overs, while Tuba Hassan, Tasmia, Nashra and Sadia chipped in with one scalp apiece.
