The Bangladesh national women’s cricket team demonstrated nerves of steel as they managed to tie the third and final One Day International against visiting India at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.

India, in pursuit of a target of 226 runs for victory, lost all their wickets with the scores level and only three balls to spare. The match reached a tense climax as India required ten runs in the last three overs, with three wickets in hand. However, Bangladesh spinner Nahida Akter turned the tide in her team’s favor, taking two crucial wickets and conceding just one run in the 47th over of the innings.

With six runs scored in the 49th over, India needed only three runs to win, while Bangladesh needed one more wicket. The thrilling conclusion saw Bangladesh pacer Marufa Akter stepping up to bowl the last over. India managed to score two singles off the first two balls, leveling the score. However, in the third delivery, Marufa claimed the wicket of India’s last batter, Meghna Singh, securing a tie for Bangladesh and ending the series with a 1-1 draw.

Earlier, Fargana Hoque Pinky scored a historic maiden One Day International century for Bangladesh women, as they posted a total of 225 runs for the loss of four wickets in their 50 overs. Fargana reached her century in the last ball of the 48th over, displaying an impressive innings of 107 runs off 160 deliveries, featuring seven boundaries. Her remarkable century surpassed the previous highest score for Bangladesh women in ODIs, which was 75 by Rumana Ahmed and Salma Khatun in two separate matches.

Supporting Fargana’s outstanding performance, Shamima Sultana also contributed with a half-century, scoring 52 runs off 78 deliveries, including five boundaries. The solid opening pair of Fargana and Shamima provided a strong foundation with a 93-run partnership. Captain Nigar Sultana Joty (24) then joined Fargana, forming a crucial 71-run partnership after Shamima’s dismissal.

Sobhana Mostary’s quick 23 runs off 22 balls in the latter stages of the innings helped Bangladesh surpass the 220-run mark.

With the series level at 1-1, Bangladesh secured a 40-run victory in the first match on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, while India responded with a convincing 108-run win in the second game.