On The Rise: Recounting Bangladesh Women's most significant ODI victories
It's just been a little over a decade since Bangladesh Women obtained ODI status and the team has finally started to live up to its promise that they have shown in glimpses in the past.
The win over India in the first ODI of the series in Mirpur could very well turn out to be a watershed moment for the team as they embark to scale much bigger mountains. For now, their sights will be set on converting the opening win into a series victory when the two sides clash on Wednesday, 19 July.
In this article, we take a look back at some of Bangladesh's most significant victories in ODI cricket.
Bangladesh v USA (24 November 2011, Savar)
Though Bangladesh did not have official ODI status when they played the fifth-place play-off against USA in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier, their win in this game ensured that they were among the top 10 teams in the world.
Being in the top 10 teams at the time was the requirement for obtaining ODI status and their thumping nine-wicket win resulted in a historic moment for the Bangladesh team.
Bangladesh v South Africa (6 September 2012, Mirpur)
Bangladesh won their first-ever game – against Ireland – after obtaining official ODI status but had to wait for close to a year to get their next. The win was a very special one for Bangladesh as it came against one of the top-ranked sides in the world, South Africa.
The spin-bowling duo of Khadija Tul Kubra and Rumana Ahmed picked up three wickets each to reduce the Proteas to just 75. However, the hosts were made to fight hard for their victory, winning the match with just two wickets in hand. Lata Mondal anchored the chase with 31 runs and Ritu Moni closed the game with 12*.
The two-wicket win was also Bangladesh's first on their home turf.
Bangladesh v Pakistan (4 & 6 March 2014, Cox's Bazar)
It took Bangladesh three years to win their first-ever bilateral series and it came against Pakistan at home. In the first game, inspiring spells from Lata Mondal (4/35) and Jahanara Alam (3/22) helped Bangladesh defend a modest total of 152.
In the next match, the bowlers came to the party yet again, restricting the visitors to just 87. Despite losing wickets regularly, Bangladesh managed to get across the line with three wickets in hand to complete a memorable 2-0 sweep of the series.
The World Cup clash between the two Asian countries will be remembered for many reasons, including Bangladesh posting their highest score in Women's ODI history, Sidra Ameen scoring her maiden ODI century but most of all for Bangladesh recording their first-ever win in women's cricket's marquee event.
Fargana Hoque top-scored for Bangladesh with 71 and was well supported by Sharmin Akhter and Nigar Sultana as they posted 234/7 in their 50 overs.
For much of Pakistan's chase, they seemed in complete control and needed to go at little over run-a-ball in the last 15 overs with nine wickets in hand. What followed was a collapse of epic proportions as Pakistan lost eight wickets for 90 runs, falling short of the target by nine runs.
The final ball sparked big celebrations for Bangladesh as they completed a historic first-ever World Cup win.
Bangladesh's victory over a full-strength Indian team showed how far the team has come of late. Even though results haven't gone their way – the win over India was their first in ODIs since their epic win against Pakistan in the World Cup – Bangladesh have shown tremendous signs of great potential.
In a rain-curtailed game that reduced the match to 44 overs a side, India bowled well to restrict Bangladesh to just 152. The hosts responded brilliantly, with Marufa Akter denting India early in the chase.
Harmanpreet Kaur and co looked all at sea as they crumbled to 113 all out, facing a 40-run defeat by the DLS method as Bangladesh recorded their first-ever win over India.