Pakistan like their talismanic seam-bowling all-rounders. And if the Oxford definition of talisman is any hint, Fatima Sana is as talismanic as they come. Pakistan came into this game having lost two out of two games in this World Cup, and three of their most recent T20I games against Bangladesh. So, naturally, Fatima Sana bowled through the powerplay. She took two wickets within her first five deliveries, effecitvely puncturing Bangladesh’s energy at the top.
Bangladesh were 23-3 after the powerplay. Sobhana Mostary’s lively strokeplay was beginning to inject some energy into the innings when she was trapped in front by Nashra Sandhu. And while Bangladesh’s own talismanic captain, Nigar Sultana Joty, tried to steady the innings, they bizarrely held back Shorna Akter. The promoted Ritu Moni dabbed and prodded to 7 off 16 until she was put out of her misery. After twelve overs, Bangladesh had only hit five boundaries.
Shorna took seven balls to show why she should’ve been sent in earlier. Those who watched her at the ODI World Cup last winter remember the range of her power-hitting abilities. She helped Bangladesh take fourteen from the 19th over, and nine off the last, bowled by Fatima Sana.
Pakistan started their innings with a maiden over. The next two balls brought an LBW appeal and a top-edge for four. But, unlike Bangladesh, they had a very gettable target of 124 in front of them and didn’t have to go hell for leather. And they had, in Muneeba Ali, a batter with an incredible ability to rotate strike when she’s not getting boundaries. Opposite her, Gull Feroza played the powerhitter.
At the end of the powerplay, Pakistan were 41/0, one-third through their target, and both openers set.
It turned out to be a minor illusion. If Bangladesh’s woes against slow left arm is famously-known (see chart below), Pakistan are not too much better, averaging below 20 and striking barely above a run-a ball. Cue: Nahida Akter picked two, Shanjida Akter three.
After sixteen overs, they were 79-6, needing 45 at 11.25 runs per over. They hadn’t hit a boundary since the eighth over. Fatima, too, struggled for timing, toiling to 10 off 16 before holing out off Nahida Akter. And that was the game.
Pakistan had gone from 58-1 to 84-8 in eight overs. Without taking anything away from Nahida Akter and Shanjida Akter’s exceptional bowling, it was an exhibition of how to spill a game. They’ve now lost four consecutive T20I matches against Bangladesh, stretching up to October 2023.
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⚠️ Bangladesh’s achilles heel: Bangladesh are infamously bad against slow left arm bowling—18 dismissals at an average of 15.5 and strike-rate of 91.5 in this last World Cup cycle.
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🔆 Gull Feroza finally sees light: In eleven innings since the last T20 World Cup, Gull Feroza hadn’t crossed the powerplay. Given her incredible power-hitting ability, Pakistan have persisted with her to partner Muneeba Ali. Tonight, at the end of the powerplay, Feroza was unbeaten on 22 off 15, playing her part in laying the foundation for Pakistan.
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⭐ Nahida comes clutch, again: For players at this World Cup, Nahida Akter ranks 90th percentile for wickets edge—how often a bowler struck more frequently than their team. She broke open Pakistan’s chase by removing the well-set Gull Feroza and then Muneeba Ali. And then, with three overs left and the game on the brink, she removed Fatima Sana.
When Pakistan had Bangladesh at 13-3 after 4 and a half overs, they would’ve been thinking of their first points on the board. Instead, they are now at three losses in three. One of their two remaining games is against Australia. It’s a long, long way to the semi-finals.