A superb bowling performance led by Marufa Akter and the spin attack helped Bangladesh overcome Indonesia in their Asia Cup opener in Dubai.

Indonesia, on their Asia Cup debut, put up a spirited performance especially with the ball to restrict Bangladesh to 129 for 8. Sobhana Mostary , playing her 100th international match, top-scored with 40, while Shorna Akter injected late momentum with 31 off 18 balls. Indonesia in return were bowled out for 58, with left-arm spinner Nahida Akter finishing with figures of 3 for 15.

Indonesia make early inroads

Indonesia’s Ni Made Putri Suwandewi found swing almost immediately but Bangladesh’s openers handled the movement well to make a positive start, scoring four boundaries in the first two overs. But that did not last long as Suwandewi struck in her second over, having Juairiya Ferdous mistime an inswinging delivery towards cover point, where Ni Ariani came forward and held a sharp low catch to give Indonesia their first wicket in Asia Cup.

Mostary and Dilara Akter then found run-scoring increasingly difficult. Bangladesh managed only one boundary between the third over and the end of the powerplay, reaching 30 for 1.

Indonesia’s spinners maintained the pressure thereafter, conceding only a few boundaries and repeatedly forcing Bangladesh’s batters to manufacture their shots. The partnership between Mostary andDilara struggled to gather momentum and was eventually broken when Ariani had Dilara caught for 27 off 31 balls. Bangladesh reached 58 for 2 at the halfway stage.

Shorna shines, Indonesia sparkle

Bangladesh’s first six came only in the 13th over thanks to Mostary. But her attempt to accelerate was checked soon after as 16-year old legspinner Sofia Velic, on her international debut, dismissed captain Nigar Sultana. Mostary was then left with the responsibility of guiding Bangladesh towards a competitive total, but Indonesia continued to restrict the scoring. Ni Luh Dewi struck twice in the 17th over to remove Mostary for 40 and Ritu Moni, leaving Bangladesh in further trouble.

Shorna briefly changed the momentum, hitting a six and a four, but Indonesia’s bowling ensured Bangladesh could not fully capitalise. Indonesia too dropped as many as three catches but the reprieves did not make much of an impact.

Ariani produced a dramatic finish to the innings, picking up two wickets as Bangladesh slipped from 105 for 3 to 129 for 8. They lost five wickets for 21 runs in just 17 balls, with Shorna, who had looked Bangladesh’s most fluent batter late in the innings, stranded at the non-striker’s end for much of the final over.

Bangladesh bowlers rule

Marufa began with a probing over, getting the ball to swing both ways and keeping Indonesia’s openers cautious. She broke through in her second over, having Rahmawati Pangestuti edge a full delivery to mid-on. she struck again in her next over, trapping Maria Corazon lbw with a full ball that swung sharply into her pads and beat her attempted flick. Indonesia had lost both openers early but they had made a slightly better start than Bangladesh managed during their own powerplay.

But the game shifted after the powerplay as Bangladesh’s spinners tightened the screws. Senior legspinner Fahima Khatun ended Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini’s difficult stay at the crease in the ninth over, trapping the Indonesia captain in front for just 2 off 15 balls. Sanjida Akter Meghla followed up with another wicket in the next over, trapping Dewi lbw after she missed a length ball that came into her pads.

Nahida struck in the 12th over but it was in the 14th over that Indonesia’s innings completely fell apart. Nahida first dismissed Suwandewi for 3 after a mistimed pull. Sofia Velic was then run out for 1 following a quick throw from deep fine leg, before Nahida finished the over by bowling Ariani for 2. Indonesia had slipped to eight down, and two more run-outs completed their innings as Bangladesh sealed a convincing 71-run victory.

Scores:
Bangladesh Women 129 for 8 in 20 overs (Dilara Akter 27, Sobhana Mostary 40, Nigar Sultana 10, Shorna Akter 31*; Ni Made Putri Suwandevi 1-13,  Ni Ariani 3-28, Ni Luh Dewi 2-21) beat Indonesia Women  58 in 17.3 overs  (Maria Corazon 12; Marufa Akter 2-06, Sanjida Akter Meghia 1-11, Nahida nahida 3-15, Fahima Khatun 1-09) by 71 runs

[Cricinfo]

The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of  Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of  September due to its apparent southward relative motion.

The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (01) are Kalpitiya, Talawa, Sinharagama, Galkadawala,
Nachchaduwa, Padikaramaduwa, Gomarankalla and Verugal about 12.10 noon.

The inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy, scheduled for February 2027, will be moved out of  Sri Lanka with the SLC set to be stripped of hosting rights. Cricinfo has confirmed that the six-team event will be played at a different venue in the same window, and it is likely to be held in India. The new hosts will be confirmed at the next ICC board meeting in October.

Sri Lanka have lost the right to stage the tournament, which was due to be their second ICC event in a year after they also co-hosted the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup, because of government interference in their board. The SLC has an interim administration, called the Transformation Committee, which was put in place by the Sri Lankan government and will oversee major board changes including to the constitution.

The ICC does not recognise politically appointed administrations and SLC representatives have not been at ICC board meetings since the Transformation Committee was put in place.

The change in venue could significantly impact the Sri Lanka side, who only qualified for the event by virtue of it being held in their country. The competition is limited to the top six teams on the ICC rankings and, as of the rankings update on Saturday, Sri Lanka are currently seventh. Australia, England, India, New Zealand and South Africa make up the top five. West Indies are sixth and would have originally missed out but if Sri Lanka do not qualify, then the Caribbean could sneak in.

This will be the second time in three years that Sri Lanka have lost out on an ICC event. In 2023, the 2024 men’s Under-19 World Cup was taken away from them  for the same reasons and moved to South Africa.

In any case, while the Transformation Committee is in charge, SLC’s electoral processes stand suspended. The Transformation Committee’s official task is to reform that very electoral system, and the Sri Lanka Cricket constitution in general. According to the country’s laws, this can only be done through parliament.

The Transformation Committee has said it has produced a fresh constitution which is expected to be taken up in parliament over the next few weeks. Members of that Transformation Committee told Cricinfo that it expects for SLC elections to take place before the end of 2026, so long as the parliamentary process runs smoothly.

(Cricinfo)