SOUTHAMPTON: Sanjita Akhtar Makela and Nahida Akhtar took three wickets each as Bangladesh chased down a 124-run target to beat Pakistan by 23 runs in the 15th match of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Chasing a modest target of 124 runs, the Green Shirts managed to amass 100/8 in their 20 overs despite a stunning collapse of 7 for 39 off 58 balls.
Pakistan got off to a good start as openers Gul Feroza and Muneefa Ali put on a 49-run partnership until Nahida Akhtar dismissed the opener on the third ball of the eighth over.
Peroza scored 23 runs off 18 balls with 4 fours and scored significant runs for Pakistan.
Nahida struck again in her next over, dismissing another opener, Muneeba Ali, who scored a cautious 25 off 30 balls with the help of a six and a four.
His dismissal came as Pakistan lost 6 more wickets for 26 off 47 balls to 84/8 in 17.1 overs.
Tailanders Nashra Sandhu (nine) and Dasmiya Rupab (seven) scored 16 runs in their back-order, but their efforts were not enough to secure a miraculous victory.
Nahida and Sanjitha led Bangladesh’s bowling charge with three wickets each, while Rabeya Khan and Ritu Moni claimed a scalp each.
The decision to bat first backfired as they managed to muster 123/6 in 20 overs despite a gutsy performance from Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana and a late blitz from Shorna Akter.
Bangladesh got off to a poor start to their innings as Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana was dismissed twice in the second over, dismissing opener Dilara Akhtar (five) and top-order batsman Sharmin Akhtar (zero) respectively.
Tasmiya Rupab dealt another blow to Bangladesh by dismissing fellow opener Juwairia Ferdez (five), reducing the total to 13/3.
Following a disastrous start, Sobana Mosteri joined skipper Sultana in the middle and the duo batted cautiously under pressure to put up a crucial 35-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Nashra Sandhu finally broke the budding partnership with the second delivery of the 10th over after scoring 22 off 19 balls with three fours to bowl out Mosteri.
Sultana then had two brief partnerships with Ritu Moni (seven) and Shorna before eventually falling to Sadia Iqbal on the first delivery of the 18th over. He retired after top-scoring for Bangladesh with 36 off 38 balls with 5 fours.
Following his exit, Shorna added valuable runs to Bangladesh’s total with a cameo unbeaten 39 off 22 balls with 5 fours.
Pakistan captain Fatima was the standout bowler for Pakistan as she claimed 2 wickets for just 18 runs in her four overs and Duba Hasan, Tasmiya, Nashra and Sadia got a scalp each.