Bangladesh's strategy to beat Pakistan with spin backfired, particularly due to the batters' mindless batting, which eventually caused their nine-wicket defeat at the academy ground in Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Monday.
This is Bangladesh's first defeat in the Asia Cup, after pounding Thailand by nine wickets in the first game. Bangladesh fielded an all spin attack after preparing a spin favourable wicket but Pakistan won the toss and sent the hosts batting first.
The hosts however failed to thrive in a wicket, which carried extremely low bounce and were restricted to 70-8 in the stipulated 20 overs. Pakistan just lost one wicket before reaching the winning mark in 12.2 overs.
Opener Sidra Amin led the run charge with 35 ball-36 not out with four boundaries while her fellow opener Muneeba Ali made 14. Captain Bismah Maroof
was unbeaten on 12.
Despite such a convincing victory Pakistan were critical of the wicket. The team's opener Sidra Amin directly said that this wicket was not ideal for T20.
"I think it is not an ideal wicket for the T20 cricket. But as a player, you have to adapt to any condition and play," she said after the match.
"But we played well. Even in this wicket, a target of 70 was difficult. Because the ball was turning too much. The bowlers were getting turn, and it was a low bouncy wicket. Improvisation is difficult here. It is difficult to play too many shots.
"I think the toss was very important, the wicket is very slow, low and turning. Bowlers bowled well, credit to them."
After being sent to bat first, Bangladesh were slumped to three for three in just five overs and never recovered from the shaky start. Salma
Khatun was the highest scorer for the side with an unbeaten 24 while captain Nigar Sultana Joty contributed 17. Lata Mandal was the only other batter to
cross double digit figure with 12.
Pakistan's Diana Beg and Nida Dar took two wickets apiece while Sadia Iqbal and Omaima Sohail picked up one wicket each.
India however made it two in two after beating Malaysia by 30 runs through D/L method.
After being asked to bat first, India posted a huge 181-4 with Sabbhineni Meghana top-scoring with 53 ball-69 which studded with 11 fours and one six. Shafali Verma was the other notable scorer with 46 and Richa Ghosh added 33 not out.
Malaysia's revised target was 47 in 4.2 overs after rain hampered the progress of the game following India's innings. They however reached 16-2 in 5.2 overs.
