Bangladesh Women secured a dominant 7-wicket win over Pakistan Women in the 3rd match of the ICC Women’s World Cup at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium on October 2, 2025. Chasing a modest 130, the Tigresses romped home with 113 balls to spare, thanks to an unbeaten 54 from debutant Rubya Haider and a clinical bowling performance led by Player of the Match Marufa Akter.
Match Overview
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first under lights in Colombo, but their decision backfired spectacularly. The Green Shirts were bundled out for just 129 in 38.3 overs, with only captain Fatima Sana (22) and Rameen Shamim (23) offering any real resistance. Bangladesh’s chase was equally clinical, reaching 131/3 in just 31.1 overs to kick off their World Cup campaign in style.
Pakistan’s Batting Collapse
The PAK Women vs BAN Women clash started disastrously for Pakistan. Marufa Akter struck twice in the first over itself, removing both Omaima Sohail (0) and Sidra Amin (0) to leave Pakistan reeling at 2/2. It was a nightmare start that set the tone for the entire innings.
Muneeba Ali (17) and Rameen Shamim tried to rebuild with a 42-run partnership, but Nahida Akter broke through to dismiss both batters in quick succession. Pakistan limped to 47/4 at the drinks break, already in deep trouble.
The middle order offered little resistance. Aliya Riaz’s painful 13 off 43 balls summed up Pakistan’s struggles. Wicketkeeper Sidra Nawaz provided brief entertainment with a brisk 15, including three boundaries, but fell LBW to Rabeya Khan just as she was getting going.
Fatima Sana showed some fight with 22 runs, but wickets kept tumbling at the other end. The tail wagged slightly through Diana Baig’s unbeaten 16, but Pakistan’s total of 129 always looked under-par on a decent batting surface.
Bangladesh’s Bowling Masterclass
Shorna Akter was the standout performer with figures of 3/5 in just 3.3 overs, including a stunning spell at the death. Her victims included Natalia Pervaiz, Nashra Sandhu (who was bizarrely hit wicket), and Sadia Iqbal.
Marufa Akter set the tone with her early double strike, finishing with 2/31. The spinners then applied the squeeze—Nahida Akter claimed 2/19 in her 8 overs, while Rabeya Khan was miserly with 1/13 from 7 overs.
It was a complete team bowling effort that exposed Pakistan’s fragile batting lineup.
Bangladesh’s Comfortable Chase
The PAK Women vs BAN Women result was never really in doubt once Bangladesh got past the early jitters. Fargana Hoque fell cheaply for 2, trapped LBW by Diana Baig in the 4th over after a successful Pakistan review.
But that was as good as it got for the Green Shirts. Debutant Rubya Haider anchored the chase beautifully, compiling an unbeaten 54 off 77 balls with 8 fours. She showed composure beyond her years, rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries.
Sharmin Akhter (10) struggled before falling LBW to Rameen Shamim. Captain Nigar Sultana then joined Haider for a crucial 62-run partnership. Sultana contributed a steady 23 off 44 balls before holing out to Diana Baig off Fatima Sana’s bowling.
By then, Bangladesh needed just 34 runs from 25 overs. Sobhana Mostary (24 not out off 19) joined Haider, and the pair knocked off the remaining runs with ease. Mostary’s aggressive approach—striking at 126.31—ensured there was no late drama.
Pakistan burned through all three reviews unsuccessfully, including two in consecutive balls during the chase. It was that kind of day for Fatima Sana’s team.
Match Scorecard
| Team | Runs | Wickets | Overs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan Women | 129 | 10 | 38.3 |
| Bangladesh Women | 131 | 3 | 31.1 |
Result: Bangladesh Women won by 7 wickets
Top Performers
Pakistan Women:
- Diana Baig — 16* (22), 3×4
- Fatima Sana — 22 (33), 4×4
- Rameen Shamim — 23 (39), 5×4, 2×6
Bangladesh Women:
- Rubya Haider — 54* (77), 8×4
- Nigar Sultana — 23 (44), 5×4
- Sobhana Mostary — 24* (19), 2×4, 1×6
Bowling Stars:
- Shorna Akter (BAN) — 3/5 (3.3 overs)
- Marufa Akter (BAN) — 2/31 (7 overs)
- Nahida Akter (BAN) — 2/19 (8 overs)
Last 10 Overs Run Chart
Pakistan Women (Overs 29-38.3)
| Overs | Runs Scored | Key Events |
|---|---|---|
| 29-30 | 5 runs | Fatima Sana dismissed LBW (review lost) |
| 31-32 | 8 runs | N. Pervaiz out caught |
| 33-34 | 5 runs | Nashra hit wicket |
| 35-36 | 5 runs | Wickets falling regularly |
| 37-38.3 | 6 runs | Sadia Iqbal dismissed, innings ends |
Bangladesh Women (Overs 22-31.1)
| Overs | Runs Scored | Key Events |
|---|---|---|
| 22-23 | 7 runs | Two unsuccessful Pakistan reviews |
| 24-25 | 9 runs | Sultana dismissed at 97/3 |
| 26-27 | 10 runs | Mostary joins, accelerates |
| 28-29 | 8 runs | Haider reaches fifty |
| 30-31.1 | 7 runs | Winning runs scored |
Captain’s Corner
While official quotes weren’t immediately available, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana would surely have praised her bowlers’ discipline and Haider’s composure on debut. Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana faces tough questions about her team’s batting frailties after managing just 129 runs in 50 overs.
The PAK Women vs BAN Women result highlighted the gap between the two sides on the day, with Bangladesh’s bowlers executing their plans perfectly before the batters finished the job professionally.
What’s Next?
Bangladesh have opened their World Cup account with two crucial points and will carry momentum into their next fixture. Pakistan, meanwhile, face an uphill battle to recover from this heavy defeat. They’ll need to regroup quickly—both mentally and tactically—if they want to stay competitive in this tournament.
For Pakistan, the batting remains a major concern. Aside from the captain and Rameen Shamim, no batter showed any real fight. The bowling wasn’t terrible—Diana Baig and Fatima Sana picked up wickets—but defending 129 was always an impossible task.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, have announced themselves as genuine contenders. Their bowling depth and Haider’s emergence as a batting talent bode well for the remainder of the tournament.
Final Thoughts
The PAK Women vs BAN Women match summary tells a simple story: Bangladesh outplayed Pakistan in all departments. From Marufa Akter’s opening burst to Shorna Akter’s death bowling brilliance, and from Haider’s debut knock to Mostary’s finishing touches, the Tigresses were simply too good.
Pakistan will need to show significant improvement in their upcoming matches. This was a reality check for a team that had hoped to make an impact at this World Cup.