Nahida, Marufa help Bangladesh brush aside Indonesia

Bangladesh 129 for 8 (Mostary 40, Shorna 31*, Ariani 3-28, Dewi 2-21) beat Indonesia 58 (Nahida 3-15, Marufa 2-6) by 71 runs

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 mis‑timed 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 and Dilara struggled to gather momentum and was eventually broken when Ariani took 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 toward a competitive total, but Indonesia continued to restrict the scoring. Ni Luh Dewi struck twice in the 17th over to dismiss Mostary for 40 and Ritu Moni, leaving Bangladesh further in trouble.

Shona 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 interruption did not make a major impact.

Ariani delivered a dramatic finish, taking two wickets as Bangladesh slumped from 105 for 3 to 129 for 8. They lost five wickets for 21 runs in just 17 balls, with Shorna—who had been Bangladesh’s most fluent batter late in the innings—being stranded at the non‑striker’s end for much of the final over.

Bangladesh bowlers rule

Marufa started with a probing over, inducing the ball to swing both ways and keeping Indonesia’s openers cautious. She broke through in her second over, edging Rahmawati Pangestuti to mid‑on, then struck again in the next over, trapping India’s captain Maria Corazon lbw with a fuller delivery that swung sharply into her pads and beat her tentative flick. Indonesia had lost both openers early but managed a slightly better start than Bangladesh achieved during their own powerplay.

However, 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 in the ninth over, catching the captain on face‑up in front for just two runs off fifteen balls. Sanjida Akter Meghla followed with another wicket in the subsequent over, dismissing Dewi lbw after she missed a length ball that landed onto her pads.

Nahida took strikes in the twelfth over but it was in the fourteenth that Indonesia’s innings collapsed completely. Nahida first removed Suwandewi for three after a mistimed pull. Sofia Velic was later taken for one off a quick deep fine leg, and Nahida finished the over by bowling Ariani for two. Indonesia slid to eight runs down, and two additional run‑outs saw them finish, sealing a convincing 71‑run victory.