Bangladesh Triumphs in ICC Women’s WC Qualifier Opener

In an impressive display of cricket, Bangladesh defeated Thailand by a substantial margin of 178 runs in the opener of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier. Held at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground in Lahore, Pakistan, the match highlighted the exceptional performances of Nigar Sultana Joty, Jannatul Ferdus, and Fahima Khatun.

Leading the charge was Nigar Sultana Joty, who scored her maiden One Day International (ODI) century, marking Bangladesh’s third century ever in this format. Her 101-run innings was pivotal in Bangladesh’s commanding total of 271 for 3 in their allotted 50 overs. Contributing significantly to this total were Fargana Hoque and Sharmin Akhter, who scored 53 and an unbeaten 94, respectively. The strong platform set by the 152-run partnership between Joty and Akhter was instrumental in achieving such a high score.

The bowling department of Bangladesh excelled with Jannatul Ferdus and Fahima Khatun both taking historic five-wicket hauls. Ferdus, in her first-ever bowling stint in ODI cricket, delivered an outstanding performance by securing 5 wickets for just 7 runs. Khatun, achieving her first five-wicket haul in a 12-year career, claimed 5 wickets for 21 runs. Their combined efforts made history as they became the first pair in Women’s ODI history to achieve five-wicket hauls in the same innings.

In response, Thailand was bowled out for a mere 93 runs in 28.5 overs, with no player posing a significant threat to Bangladesh’s bowling attack. This victory sets a strong precedent for Bangladesh’s campaign in the tournament, showcasing their depth in both batting and bowling.

This match has evidently set the tone for what could be a successful run for Bangladesh in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier. The contributions of Joty, Ferdus, and Khatun were instrumental in achieving this resounding victory, emphasizing Bangladesh’s potential in the upcoming games.