Bangladesh set the tone for their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 campaign with a commanding performance against Pakistan at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on Thursday.

After being put in to bowl, the Tigresses restricted Pakistan to a modest 129, thanks to a fiery opening burst from 19-year-old Marufa Akter.

Her inswinging deliveries uprooted Omaima Sohail and Sidra Amin in the first over, instantly putting Pakistan on the back foot.

Captain Nigar Sultana was full of praise for her young pacer: “I told the girls that we needed wickets in the powerplay. Marufa is very young and mature. She knows her role very well, and is very confident. How she delivered was incredible.”

Marufa, named player of the match, credited the support around her for the breakthrough performance. “All are supporting me. Shobana Mostary, especially thank you. She told me, ‘You’re a lovely bowler, you can do it.’ Our analyst told me two months ago that I can do it. I did it. I always tell myself, ‘Come on.’ I was getting good swing. There was some lovely swing on the first ball, and I maintained the line and length.”

Nahida Akter, Rabeya Khan, Fahima Khatun, Nishita Akter Nishi, and Shorna Akter complemented Marufa’s early burst with disciplined spells, picking up wickets at crucial intervals. Shorna’s late strike, claiming three wickets for just five runs, ensured Pakistan finished all out for 129.

Chasing a modest target, Bangladesh’s batters rode on a steady fifty-run partnership between captain Nigar Sultana and debutant Rubya Haider, whose unbeaten half-century guided the team to a comfortable seven-wicket victory. Early setbacks saw Diana Baig dismiss Fargana Hoque and Sharmin Akhter, but Bangladesh’s composure never wavered.