Fargana Hoque. (Photo Source: Twitter)
India and Bangladesh are currently playing the third and final ODI of what has been an unexpectedly intriguing series. Harmanpreet Kaur’s women were the favourites coming into the series but they were dealt a huge blow when the home side defeated them for the first time in ODI cricket in the first game. India bounced back strongly to win the second ODI and keep the series alive.
The decisive third ODI is being played at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Bangladeshi openers got their team off to a solid start. The first wicket fell for 93 as Shamima Sultana departed after scoring 52. However, the show didn’t stop as her opening partner Fargana Hoque was in scintillating form.
Prior to the start of the game, she was the second-highest run-getter in the series and the highest scorer for her country. Fargana Hoque continued her purple patch as she played the Indian bowling on its merit and cashed in on the loose balls to score her maiden ODI hundred. By virtue of her ton, she scripted history as no other Bangladeshi woman had scored an ODI century before her. The highest run-getter in women’s cricket for Bangladesh got to the landmark off the 156th ball she faced. The right-handed batter hit an exquisite drive through the covers for a boundary.
The experienced batter was eventually dismissed in the last over when she got run out off the final ball. Her knock ended with 107 runs in 160 balls, comprising seven boundaries.
India Women need 226 to seal ODI series against Bangladesh Women
India will have to play well as they have a decent target of 226 to chase down in the second innings. Scoring runs hasn’t been easy and no team has won while chasing in the ongoing ODI series so far. Meanwhile, Jemimah Rodrigues played a delightful 86-run knock in the last game and she would be one of the key batters for her side to give India Women a decent chance to successfully chase down the required target to not only seal the game but also clinch the series as well.