Members of the Bangladesh women cricket team celebrate after beating Pakistan in their first one-day international at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox's Bazar yesterday. PHOTO: star

When the Tigers were turning the screws against Pakistan in their Asia Cup encounter in Dhaka, their female counterparts had already gone one better by beating the Pakistan women's team in a one-day international in Cox's Bazar yesterday. The Bangladesh national women's team beat Pakistan by 43 runs in the first ever match played at the newly-built Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium.

Put into bat, Bangladesh put on a decent total of 152 before being all out in 49.3 overs, thanks to a brisk 75-ball 44 from middle-order batsman Rumana Ahmed and a brisk 26 from Nuzhat Tasnia. Qanita Jalil was the most effective Pakistan bowler as she took three wickets for just 26 runs.

Bangladesh pacer Lata Mandal then ripped through the Pakistan top order by taking the first four wickets as Pakistan tottered at 32 for five. It was only due to a fighting knock of 40 from lower-order batsman Asmavia Iqbal that Pakistan passed the score of 100. However, skipper Salma Khatun took two wickets including the crucial one of Iqbal to make sure Pakistan were all out for 109 in the 45th over. Lata was adjudged player-of-the-match.

The second match of the two-match series will take place at the same venue on Thursday.