Tigress begin in Style
The Bangladesh national women’s cricket team began their 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup campaign in style, defeating Pakistan by seven wickets in their opening match at Colombo. Bangladesh showed their true intent for the prestigious tournament by registering a confidence-boosting victory. With a commanding performance, combining strong bowling, composed batting, and strategy the Tigress move ahead.
In a low-scoring contest, Pakistan Women were bowled out for 129 runs. In reply, Bangladesh chased down the target in style, finishing at 130/3 with 113 balls to spare. The dominant win underlined how Bangladesh approached the match with intent and composure.
Match Summary & Key Performances
Rubya Haider starred for Bangladesh, scoring an unbeaten 54* from 70 balls, anchoring the chase with calm and control. Her innings was beautifully paced, mixing caution with aggression when needed. The bowlers had earlier done their job brilliantly: Shorna picked up 3 for 5, Nahida Akter took 2 for 19, and Marufa Akter grabbed 2 for 31. Their combined effort kept Pakistan’s batters in check throughout the innings.
Marufa Akter, who was later named Player of the Match, explained how belief and support played a big role in her performance, “All are supporting me. Shobana Mostary, especially thank you. She told ‘you’re a lovely bowler, you can do it’. Our analyst told two months ago that you can do it. I did it. I always tell myself, ‘Come on’. I was getting good swing. There was some lovely swing on the first ball, and I maintained the line and length.”
Her spell with the new ball set the tone for Bangladesh, and the early breakthroughs put Pakistan under constant pressure. She also earned praises from legendary Sri Lanka fast-bowler Lasith Malinga.
“Pure skill. Excellent control. So far the best delivery in this tournament,” Malinga wrote on his Facebook profile.
Bangladesh’s Strategic Approach & Depth
From the start, Bangladesh’s game plan was clear: early wickets, disciplined bowling, and then a steady chase. The decision to bowl first came after Pakistan won the toss, but captain Nigar Sultana Joty revealed it was actually a blessing in disguise.
“It was good toss to lose, I guess, because we also wanted to bat [first]. I told the girls that we needed wickets in the powerplay. Marufa is very young and mature. She knows her role very well, and is very confident. How she delivered was incredible. After the first innings, we talked about playing our natural game. Jhelik batted really well in her debut game. Sometimes you feel pressure when you lose an early wicket… We wanted to start with a win. It gives a momentum we can take into the rest of the tournament.”
Bangladesh stuck to that plan perfectly. Once Rubya Haider and her partners took charge with the bat, Bangladesh kept the momentum, showing maturity and calmness despite the occasion.
What stands out is the depth. While Haider’s half-century was the highlight, the bowlers and fielders laid the foundation. The ability to restrict Pakistan to 129 reflected game awareness and execution across all departments.
What This Means for Bangladesh
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Momentum & Confidence
Getting off the mark with a win gives Bangladesh confidence—not just in this tournament, but in how they view their abilities going forward. Having an opener behind them helps remove early pressure and lets them play freely in subsequent matches. Joty herself highlighted how crucial this win is for their mindset: “We wanted to start with a win. It gives a momentum we can take into the rest of the tournament.” -
Validation of Preparation
Many questioned how Bangladesh would fare after a gap since their last international matches (the World Cup qualifiers). But this performance shows their preparation, training, and team planning have come together well. -
Message to Rivals
A convincing win against Pakistan sends a message to all teams in the group that Bangladesh cannot be underestimated. Their bowlers and batters will now be taken more seriously in every matchup. -
Platform for Young Players
Performances like these open doors for younger players. Marufa Akter, still very young, proved that she can shine on the biggest stage. With support from senior players and management, talents like her will play a huge role in shaping Bangladesh’s future.
Challenges Remain
Despite the win, Bangladesh must guard against complacency. In upcoming matches, they’ll face tougher opposition like Australia, England, and South Africa. To continue winning, the batting unit must remain consistent beyond one good innings. Pakistan were restricted well—what if next match the total is 200+? Bangladesh must ensure their middle order is ready.
Also, while the bowling was superb, the margin for error in future matches will be slimmer. Keeping discipline, rotating bowlers finely, and executing plans under pressure—all will be critical.
The fielding and catching also must stay sharp. One dropped catch or misfield could change momentum.
Looking Ahead
Bangladesh will continue their campaign with six more group-stage matches. Their strategy will likely be to build from this foundation: maintain bowling pressure, rotate successes, and let batters like Rubya Haider, Nigar Sultana, and the up-and-coming names carry the load.
If Bangladesh can string together two to three wins, they can realistically threaten a semi-final spot. The confidence from this start may carry them into tighter matches. Joty and her teammates are determined not to repeat the struggles of qualification they endured previously.
Bangladesh made their Women’s ODI World Cup debut in 2022 and also earned their first-ever victory in the competition against Pakistan.