Women do what men could not

Bangladesh's Panna Ghosh (R) jumps in the air in celebration of taking another Sri Lankan wicket during their Women's World T20 Group B match at the Sylhet Cricket Stadium yesterday. PHOTO: CRICINFO

While the Tigers capped off their World Twenty20 with another thumping defeat, their female counterparts salvaged some pride for the beleaguered hosts by winning their last group match against Sri Lanka in an entertaining encounter at the Sylhet Cricket Stadium yesterday.
The three-run victory, only their third in 22 Twenty20 Internationals and first of the tournament, occasioned for some celebrations in the dressing room and some reward for the locals who had turned out day in and day out throughout the tournament.

However, despite the win, Bangladesh failed to earn a direct entry via play-off match for the 2016 World Twenty20 to be held in India, as they finished at the bottom in the group on net run-rate despite having two points along with Sri Lanka. They will now play the ninth place-deciding match against Ireland on April 3.
But they were having none of the disappointment, they were happy to have beaten a superior side. The team's vice-captain Jahanara Alam, who was also celebrating her 21st birthday yesterday, said it was the best victory for the team so far.
"It was awesome. Undoubtedly the best moment of our cricket," said an elated Jahanara, who took a wicket with her very first delivery, bowling out Sri Lanka opener Hasini Perera for 1 before getting rid of the other opener Yasoda Mendis with a direct throw. Those two wickets kept Bangladesh in the hunt after they had set up 115 for 9, their highest score in a Twenty20 International, to throw a challenging task before the Lankans.
Up until yesterday's match, Bangladesh's batting had been their thorn in the side which often undid their commendable performance with the ball and in the field. The lack of proper technique -- which could be attributed to little infrastructure for women's cricket at grassroots level and probably a lack of proper guidance as well -- had often led to some ungainly shots attempted and perishing in the pursuit of upping the run rate.
But yesterday they showed more application and made good use of a placid wicket to plunder 36 runs in the Powerplay overs. Skipper Salma Khatun led the early charge smashing four boundaries in the fourth over before she perished trying a sweep. Rumana Ahmed took over the baton and played a responsible knock of 41 off just 34 balls before she fell to a run-out. But when she fell, Bangladesh had already reached 109 and eventually they managed to score 115.
Bangladesh's bowling had always been quite praiseworthy. Jahanara dealt the early blow while the other pacer, Panna Ghosh, reaped the rewards of maintaining good line and length with three crucial wickets. Salma kept things tidy with her off-spin to make the required rate creep up. Sri Lanka skipper Shashikala Siriwardenethough kept her side in chase and took them into the last over needing 13, with three wickets in hand. But when she fell to a brilliant diving catch by Lata Mondal at mid-on off the bowling of Panna, Bangladesh had the game firmly in the grasp.