Bangladesh Women`s team take on India in the series deciding third and final ODI tomorrow (Saturday) at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. The match starts at 9.30 PM.
Bangladesh won the first match by 40 runs under DLS method before India leveled the series with a massive 108-run victory in the second game, reports UNB.
The victory in the first ODI was Bangladesh`s maiden victory in this format against India. Pacer Marufa Akter was instrumental in the victory, claiming her career-best 4-29.
India`s opening batter Smriti Mandhana believed the key to win the series will be how they can deal with Marufa.
"She is a brilliant cricketer and hard to pick. She has the fire to be a very good cricketer. She is the future of Bangladesh cricket," Mandhana said ahead of the third game.
"We need to negotiate her bowling well. Bangladesh also have very good bowling attack and they have really good variation in bowling. We hope we`ll overcome the challenge to win the game." Bangladesh however would have to address their batting problem if they want to win the series, said its coach Hashan Tillkaratne.
"Our big problem is our batting. The batters couldn`t prolong the innings despite being set in the crease," said the Sri Lankan coach.
"We need to make sure that we will play the big innings if we can get set. We have to also improve our fitness," he said.
Bangladesh sweat hard on the fitness of captain Nigar Sultana Joty, which is another point to worry about.
"Joty is yet to get the clearance. We will assess her fitness tomorrow ahead of the game. If she passes the fitness test, she will play," the coach added.
