WATCH: Rosemary Mair bowls a jaffa to clean up Sharmin Akhter in NZ vs BAN Women’s World Cup 2025 clash

In the 11th match of the at Guwahati, Rosemary Mair made an immediate impact with the ball, dismissing Bangladesh’s Sharmin Akhter for just 3 runs off 9 balls. The early breakthrough came as Bangladesh struggled to settle against New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack.

Rosemary Mair strikes early as Sharmin Akhter departs cheaply in NZ vs BAN Women’s World Cup 2025 clash

Sharmin, attempting to defend a length ball, misjudged the line as it jagged back in off the seam. Her bat failed to connect properly, and the delivery slipped past her, crashing into the stumps. Mair’s wicket was a textbook example of seam bowling precision. She maintained a probing line outside off stump, enticing the batter to play at deliveries just outside her comfort zone. Sharmin, unsure whether the ball would straighten or move in, poked tentatively and was beaten by the subtle movement off the pitch. The dismissal not only set the tone for New Zealand’s bowling innings but also put immediate pressure on Bangladesh’s fragile top order.

By striking in the fourth over, Mair forced the Bangladesh batters to rethink their approach, curbing their intent to build a steady partnership. The early scalp highlighted Mair’s ability to exploit small mistakes and her knack for producing wicket-taking deliveries under pressure. Bangladesh now found themselves 7/1, needing to stabilize quickly to avoid a complete collapse against a confident New Zealand side.

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— Blablabla (@Bhaukal_ba1)

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New Zealand spinners dismantle Bangladesh top order as Kiwis dominate 11th Women’s World Cup 2025 clash

In the 11th match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 at Guwahati, New Zealand’s bowlers wreaked havoc on Bangladesh’s fragile batting line-up, reducing them to 66/7 in just 23 overs while chasing a target of 228. Bangladesh’s top order failed to find any rhythm against a disciplined Kiwi attack, with Mair and Jess Kerr leading the charge. Early wickets fell quickly, starting with Sharmin Akhter’s dismissal by Mair for 3, followed by Rubya Haider (4) and Nigar Sultana (4), exposing the fragility of the side.

Mair’s subtle seam movement and accurate length troubled the batters repeatedly, while Kerr combined pace with smart variations to prevent any flow in the innings. Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr and Lea Tahuhu also contributed crucial breakthroughs, leaving Bangladesh scrambling to rebuild. The run rate lagged far behind the required 6.00, reflecting the immense pressure on the visitors.

With the middle and lower order offering minimal resistance, Bangladesh’s chase is hanging by a thread. Only Nahida Akter and Fahima Khatun showed brief flashes of resistance, scoring 17* and 12* respectively, but they now face a daunting task against a relentless New Zealand attack. At this stage, the Kiwis are firmly in control, and the match is shaping up to be a comprehensive victory unless Bangladesh can mount an improbable counterattack.

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