Nahida Akter claimed three wickets as Bangladesh’s spinners helped their side claim a 23-run comeback victory over Pakistan in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Nigar Sultana and a Shorna Akter counter-attack had helped the Tigresses recover to 123 for six after Fatima Sana had struck twice in the second over.
Sanjida Akter Meghla also took three and Rabeya Khan bowled tightly as Bangladesh, the ICC’s 10th-ranked nation, kept their Asian rivals, ranked eighth winless, while picking up their second win of the tournament.
LATE SHORNA STRIKING HELPS BANGLADESH RECOVER
After Bangladesh had won the toss and elected to bat, Dilara Akter cut Sadia Iqbal for four in the game’s first over.
But Fatima Sana, off the back of a remarkable all-round performance against South Africa at Edgbaston on Wednesday, began exactly where she had left off.
She had Dilara (5) chipping straight to Nashra Sundhu at mid-on with her second ball, then trapped Sharmin Akter LBW with an in-ducker two deliveries later for a duck.
Two dots followed to complete a rare double-wicket maiden, the Pakistan skipper finishing with figures of two for 18 from her four overs.
Tasmia Rubab, back in the side after missing out against the Proteas, dismissed Juairiya Ferdous (7) in the fifth over as Bangladesh slipped to 13 for three.
Sobhana Mostary cut Fatima for four off the final over of the powerplay, the only boundary since the first over as they ended the first six 23 for three.
Captain Nigar Sultana took Tasmia’s seventh over for 10, as the Tigresses' leading T20I run-scorer looked to settle her side’s innings.
Sobhana (22) hit boundaries off Nashra and Tuba Hassan, before a successful LBW review off the former ended her innings.
Bangladesh consolidated before Nigar attempted to up the tempo in Tuba’s 13th over, using her feet to find consecutive boundaries.
They reached 72 for four as drinks were taken at 14 overs, but Ritu Moni (7) fell on the first ball after the break, striking Tuba (1/30) straight to Aliya Riaz at long-on.
Nigar pulled Tuba for four but fell for 36 in the 18th over, toe-ending a reverse-sweep off Sadia (1/21) straight to Saira Jabeen as Bangladesh stumbled to 92 for six.
But Shorna Akter’s late cameo shifted the momentum of the innings, dabbing smartly behind point and driving Sadia over extra cover.
She took 14 off Fatima’s final over of the innings to carry her side to 123 for six, herself ending not out on 39 off 22 balls.
BANGLADESH SPINNERS STIFLE PAKISTAN
Marufa Akter began Bangladesh’s defence with a maiden, before Gull Feroza found the first boundary with a leading edge over third man.
Muneeba Ali smashed Sanjida over long-on for six, before Gull hit Rabeya for two boundaries to finish the powerplay on 41 without loss.
Muneeba offered Ritu a chance off her own bowling in the seventh over, but the power on the strike meant it burst through her hands and the throw at the stumps missed, with Gull out of her crease.
But Bangladesh had their first breakthrough soon after, as Gull (23) cut Nahida Akter to Sobhana.
Pakistan then required less than a run-a-ball, but three quick Bangladesh wickets changed the pattern of the game.
Nahida, Bangladesh’s leading T20I wicket-taker, had Muneeba (25) caught at square-leg, before Sanjida removed both Ayesha Zafar and Aliya in the 12th over to leave Pakistan 70 for four.
The runs began to dry up and legspinner Rabeya (1/17) trapped Iram Javed LBW for nine in the 15th over.
Saira Jabeen then edged Sanjida (3/21) to Rabeya at backward point for a duck, with Pakistan falling to 77 for six.
The wicket brought Tuba and Fatima together, but there was to be no repeat of their 71-run stand from Wednesday night as Tuba was trapped LBW by Ritu (1/24) for one.
Pakistan captain Fatima could not pull off another miracle performance and departed for 10 off Nahida (3/18) as her side finished 24 runs short.