Swarna’s whirlwind innings helps Bangladesh beat Papua New Guinea

Batting first after losing the toss, Bangladesh scored 168 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. This is Bangladesh’s third-highest team total in women’s international T20 cricket.

In the final overs, Swarna Akter, batting at number six, played a destructive 37 off 14 balls, hitting four sixes and a four. She set a record for the most sixes by a Bangladeshi woman in a single international T20 match.

Opener Dilara Akter scored 35 runs off 29 balls, supported by Sharmin Akter, who contributed 28 off 34 balls. Bangladesh added 70 runs in the last five overs for the loss of only two wickets, largely thanks to Swarna and Sobhana Mostari, who put on 62 runs in 26 balls. Sobhana remained unbeaten on 34.

Earlier, the opening pair Juwairia Ferdous and Dilara Akter added 49 runs quickly before Juwairia was dismissed for 17. Papua New Guinea started chasing 169 well, scoring 32 runs in the first three overs without losing a wicket. However, Bangladesh’s collective bowling effort turned the match in their favor. PNG ended at 138 for 9 in 20 overs. Brenda Tau scored the highest for PNG with 35 runs. Six Bangladeshi bowlers took one wicket each.

With this victory, Bangladesh tops Group A with two wins from two matches, earning 4 points, having also defeated the United States in their first match.