It was a complete performance by Bangladesh Women at the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers 2021 in Zimbabwe. The women from South Asia beat the debutants United States Women by 269 runs, the largest victory margin by runs for an Asian side (men’s and women’s) in the history of ODI cricket.
Batting first, the women in green and red rode on the back of Sharmin Akhter’s century, the first for any Bangladesh woman in ODI cricket history to reach 322, their highest ever total in ODI cricket. Along with Akhter, Fargana Hoque also scored 67 runs while Lata Mondal, Nigar Sultana and Murshida Khatun also contributed with the bat.
Defending the total, only two United States batters reached the double-digits as the Bangladeshi bowlers made sure that US batters could reach only 53 in 30.3 overs before being bowled out.
For Bangladesh, Salma Khatun, Fahima Khatun and Rumana Ahmed got two wickets each while Jahanara Alam scalped a solitary wicket.
Prior to this win by Bangladesh Women, India Women had beaten Netherlands Women by 249 runs in 2017. As far as the biggest win by runs in women's cricket is concerned, the record is held by New Zealand women who beat Pakistan by 408 runs in 1997.
This is the second win for Bangladesh Women in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier. They had earlier beaten Pakistan in a thrilling last-over finish.