Women’s World Cup [WATCH]: Marufa Akter strikes with deadly inswinger to dismiss Omaima Sohail for a golden duck in PAK-W vs BAN-W game

ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 witnessed an intense clash between Pakistan Women and Bangladesh Women on October 2, 2025, at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. This match, the third of the tournament, was crucial for both teams to gain early momentum in the competition. Pakistan Women won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to set a competitive total against a disciplined Bangladesh bowling attack. Bangladesh, fresh from their successful campaign in the World Cup Qualifier, started with confidence, leveraging their strong spin bowling arsenal.

Marufa Akter castles Omaima Sohail for a golden duck during PAK vs BAN match

In the very first over, Bangladesh’s Marufa Akter delivered a ball that turned the course of the match early on. The right-arm pacer bowled a perfect inswinger to Pakistan opener Omaima Sohail on the very first ball of the innings. The delivery pitched just outside off stump on a fuller length, tempting Sohail to play a defensive shot. However, the ball sharply swung in, beating her inside edge and rattle the top of the leg stump, resulting in a golden duck for Sohail. This wicket was a vital breakthrough for Bangladesh, setting the tone for a nervy innings for Pakistan. Akter was visibly ecstatic, aware that this fantastic delivery could put her team in an advantageous position right from the onset.

Here’s the video:

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Pakistan’s batting wobbles under Bangladesh’s disciplined pressure

Following the dramatic dismissal of Sohail, Pakistan’s innings struggled to gain stability. The early success of the Bangladesh spinners created mounting pressure, breaking through the fragile Pakistan top order. Soon after Sohail’s exit, Sidra Amin also fell victim to Akter, leaving Pakistan at 2 for 2 inside the first over. Despite a brief resistance from Muneeba Ali, who scored 17 runs off 35 balls, Pakistan could only manage 47 runs for 4 wickets after 14 overs. The current run rate languished at 3.35, reflecting the struggle against the disciplined Bangladeshi bowling lineup.

Pakistan found the scoring rate slow with the batters unable to convert starts or build partnerships. The match flow indicated consistent dominance by Bangladesh’s bowlers, who exploited the conditions astutely. With three wickets down relatively early, Pakistan’s middle order was under pressure to sustain the innings and avoid a collapse.

Akter’s figures were impressive, delivering 4 overs with conceding just 13 runs and picking up 2 crucial wickets without giving away extras. Larger contributions from the bowling unit restricted Pakistan’s run flow, and the disciplined fielding backed this strategy.

Looking ahead, Bangladesh will be optimistic about chasing the modest total, while Pakistan must regroup quickly to rebuild their innings and set a competitive target. This dynamic encounter highlights the growing competitiveness and skill in women’s cricket at the World Cup level.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.