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A two-hour rain delay reduced the first ODI between India and Bangladesh to 44 overs but it takes nothing away from the performance of the hosts, who secured an impressive 40-run victory in their ICC Championship match in Mirpur on Sunday. Needing 152 runs for the win, the middle order could not deal with the likes of Rabeya Khan and Marufa Akter with the ball, as they shared seven of the 10 wickets between them.
This was Bangladesh's first-ever win over India in the 50-over format as teenager Marufa Akter was the main orchestrator for the victory for Bangladesh, bowling India out for 113 and taking four wickets in the process.
The pacer took two wickets with the new ball and two more in the middle overs in her debut match at home. These were her best numbers in international cricket as leg-spinner Rabeya Khan added three more to Bangladesh's numbers as India collapsed in the middle overs.
Smriti Mandhana started well, hitting Marufa across the field. But it was the right-arm medium pacer who had the last laugh. Mandhana was caught behind by wicketkeeper and skipper Nigar Sultana. Priya Punia, playing her first ODI since March 2021, took 27 balls for ten runs before helping Marufa to her second wicket of the match.
After that, seven Indian batters managed double digits, but it was not enough. The 18-year-old Marufa completely dominated the show, while Rabeya, who picked up three wickets in the third T20I which Bangladesh won, picked up the crucial wickets of Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma.
Earlier, Amanjot Kaur bagged a four-wicket haul in the first innings in her debut game for the Women in Blue as India restricted their opponents to 152.
Skipper Nigar Sultana managed 39 runs off 64 balls with three fours. Fargana Pinky also batted well, scoring 27 runs off 45 balls with five fours. Sharmin Akhter had a tough time as she got run out without being able to get off the mark in 18 balls.
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