Bangladesh 123 for 6 (Shorna 39*, Sultana 36, Fatima 2-18) beat Pakistan 100 for 8 (Muneeba 25, Nahida 3-18, Sanjida 3-21) by 23 runs

Bangladesh’s spinners made a contest out of the match despite Pakistan requiring a meagre 124 to win. Their middle-overs stranglehold turned what looked to be certain defeat into a memorable 23-run victory.

But Bangladesh eventually put up 123, and victory helped them leapfrog South Africa and move up to No. 3 in Group 1, although South Africa have a game in hand. Pakistan, meanwhile, continued to languish at No. 5, with Netherlands, the T20 World Cup debutants, the only team below them.

Fatima lands early punches

Sultana wanted Bangladesh’s top order to make the most of the batting-friendly conditions in Southampton, but her counterpart Fatima made sure that was not the case with dual strikes in her first over. Fatima accounted for Dilara Akter off the second ball of the second over as the batter top-edged one to mid-on while going for a wild hack across the line.

Three balls later, Fatima produced a gem to get her second wicket. She swung the ball back into Sharmin Akter after landing the ball on a back of a length, and the ball sneaked past her inside edge to thud her right in front of the stumps.

Bangladesh could not score off Fatima off her first ten balls as she brilliantly swung in overcast conditions. Her opening burst (3-1-9-2) left a severe dent in Bangladesh’s innings as they managed only 23 at the loss of three wickets in the first six overs.

Pakistan take the catches – finally

While the first Bangladesh wicket provided an early opening for Pakistan, it must have also come as a relief for them as a chance was safely held on to rather than being shelled as had mostly been the case with them over this tournament. Nashra Sandhu, who took the catch to dismiss Dilara, was in action again when she caught Juairiya Ferdous off Rubab to leave Bangladesh reeling at 13 for 3.

But the grab that must have provided the most respite to Pakistan’s fielding coach came right after drinks when Aliya Riaz, who has been under the scanner for her hapless fielding, took Ritu Moni’s catch at long-on.

There were, however, lapses in the ground fielding as a few regulation stops burst through the hands of the fielders. But overall, Pakistan looked a much improved fielding side from their defeats against India and South Africa.

Shorna’s last blitz

When Sultana fell to Sadia Iqbal off a poor shot, Bangladesh were 92 for 6 two balls into the 18th over. That must have dashed their hopes of posting a competitive score. But a late display of sensational shots from Shorna made sure her fellow bowlers have a competitive total to work with.

Shorna hit five boundaries and top-scored in the innings as despite Sultana’s wicket, Bangladesh smashed 43 runs off the last four overs. Shorna hit five boundaries by using her wrists and moving around the crease to access gaps in the field. With the off-side cordon packed in the ring, she often backed away to hit the ball over the fielders, and scythed the ball through the gaps.

Feroza, Muneeba squander position of advantage

Pakistan were going smoothly at 49 for 0 in the eighth over before Gull Feroza cut Nahida’s half-tracker right into the hands of point. In Nahida’s next over, the tenth of the run chase, Muneeba smashed what was another long hop to deep square leg. The two had laid the foundations of the run chase astutely by seeing off Marufa Akter, who had taken two first-over wickets against Pakistan during the teams’ World Cup match in Colombo in 2025.

But once the openers were back in the pavilion, none of the Pakistan batters took the responsibility to get the team over the line. Pakistan lost six wickets from overs eight to 16. Sanjida scythed through Pakistan’s middle order by accounting for Ayesha Zafar and Aliya Riaz in the 12th over, before removing Saira Jabeen for nought in her next over.

Pakistan, as it seemed, had solely pinned hopes on their captain to deliver yet another heroic innings. But what they failed to do was provide her support from the other end. Bangladesh erupted in wild celebrations when Fatima holed out to long-on at the start of the 18th over.