So, that's it from the coverage of this first ODI. We will be back soon with you all with more cricketing actions across the globe and across formats. For now, this is Ayan Chatterjee signing off on behalf of my co-commentators Deepak Prakash and Gourav Samal alongside scorer/analyst Dushyant Madhukar Kumar. Stay safe, happy, and cool. Goodbye and CHEERS!
AlyssaHealy (Australia Women Captain): "Yes, I have played twice in ten years. Great start to the series. Bangladesh bowlers started well, and then we came back well towards the end through Sutherland and King. Yes, we showed patience and character but came back well towards the end. We have areas to work on. We have got variety in the attack. They enjoy the conditions and we will see where we can improve in our areas. Hope to do well in the coming games."
Alana King (Player of the Match): "I had fun towards the end! Alyssa Healy advised me to keep it simple and focus on hitting the right spots, especially when the ball was turning a lot in the second innings."
Nigar Sultana (Bangladesh Women Captain) : "We had a good start in the match. We took five wickets in quick succession and then somehow our bowlers couldn’t bowl in the right areas. After getting a target of 213, we also lost some quick wickets. But I’m confident about the next matches looking at the way we have been performing."
Player of the Match: Alana King
3:05 PM IST, 3:35 PM Local Time: So, that's the end of the game and a comprehensive win for Australia Women as they come out of a tough situation to win the game easily in the end by 118 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series. Bangladesh had their moments but they were outplayed in the end by a great Australian side.
Chasing 214 for the win, Bangladesh Women never got going and lost wickets at regular intervals. Sobhana Mostary scored 17, Murshida Khatun scored 10 while skipper Nigar Sultana was the top scorer with 27. 23 extras contributed by Australia. But the innings fell away in the end as Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 95 in 36 overs.
Wickets were shared around by the Australian bowlers. Ashleigh Gardner picked up 3 wickets and polished off the last two wickets. A couple of wickets for Kim Garth and a wicket for Alana King as well who bowled a miserly spell of 1/12 in 10 overs. Loads of run outs also contributed to the wickets column.
Earlier in the game, Australia Women were asked to bat first by Bangladesh Women. Skipper Alyssa Healy scored 24 and Beth Mooney scored 25. Ashleigh Gardner chipped in with a useful 32 runs. But it was Annabel Sutherland who took the game away from Bangladesh with 58* off 76 balls and she was ably supported by Alana King who scored an unbeaten 46* off 31 balls including 29 runs off the last over bowled in the Bangladesh innings. Bangladesh gave away only 5 extras as Australia ended with 213/7 in 50 overs.
Bangladesh bowlers bowled well till the last few overs and had things under control. Sultana Khatun and Nahida Akter had two wickets apiece each. A wicket apiece for Marufa Akter, Fahima Khatun, and Shorna Akter. Rabeya Khan bowled an economical spell despite not taking a wicket.
So, Australia Women won by 118 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series. Stay tuned for the presentations.
W WICKET!!! And that's the final one of the match. Gardner takes the last wicket. Australia go 1-0up in the series. Flighted on the off stump line, turning in, Akter looks to defend it and gets beaten with the spin. Ball hits her front pad and there is an appeal for LBW. Umpire raises his finger.
35.5 A Gardner to M Akter
0 Tossed up on the off, Akter stays back on the crease and defends it back on the pitch.
W WICKET!! Tossed up on middle and off on good length. Khatun looks to go for a big shot. Gets on one knee and slog sweeps it towards deep mid-wicket. Perry near the fence grabs an easy one.
35.3 A Gardner to S Khatun
0 Appeal for LBW. Turned down by the umpire. Flighted on the off, spinning in, Khatun looks to defend it and gets beaten. Ball hits the front pad.