Women's T20 World Cup: Shorna, Nahida help Bangladesh knock Pakistan out with 23-run win

Bangladesh registered their second win of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, beating Pakistan by 23 runs in Match 15 on Saturday, June 20 at The Rose Bowl, Southampton. After opting to bat first, Bangladesh managed to post 123/6 in their allotted 20 overs as Shorna Akter and captain Nigar Sultana (36 off 38) made valuable contributions after they were reduced to 13/3 in 4.3 overs.

For Pakistan, captain Fatima Sana (2/18) once again led from the front, scalping two wickets. In reply, Pakistan could only reach 100/8 in their allotted 20 overs after failing to capitalise on a good start. As a result, Bangladesh rose to third spot in the Group A points table with four points, while Pakistan are knocked out of the tournament, still winless after three matches.

Top run-scorer of the Match

Top wicket-taker of the Match

Player of the Match

Shorna Akter was adjudged Player of the Match for her terrific innings of 39* (22), laced with five fours. She walked in to bat after Bangladesh were left reeling on 72/5 in 14.1 overs. She added 31 runs off just 16 balls for the seventh wicket with Rabeya Khan, which propelled Bangladesh’s score past 120. 

Turning Point

Pakistan got off to a great start to their run chase as Gull Feroza (23 off 18), stitched a crucial 49-run stand off 45 balls for the first wicket with Muneeba Ali (25 off 30). However, after Nahida Akter accounted for Feroza, Pakistan’s batting line-up couldn’t cope with the pressure, losing seven wickets within 58 balls, scoring just 35 runs. Nahida Akter (3/18) and Shanjida Akter Meghla (3/21) scalped three wickets each as Bangladesh registered a crucial win.

What did the captains say:

Winning Captain, Nigar Sultana (Bangladesh women):  

[On Shorna Akter’s match-winning innings] Definitely, because when we were playing, like we lost a lot of wickets today as well, so we really wanted to settle down there. I think Sobhana and me already started really well in the middle, but she got out. Then Shorna comes in, I think the way she played, actually, she changed the whole scenario for just because of that cameo, I guess, we got a good total. [On whether Shorna Akter could be promoted up the order] Yeah, I think she should be playing on her role, so the way she played, I guess, she’s very comfortable at her role, so maybe sometime, yeah, we can try her up, but still, this is the way actually she plays and this is her role. And she obviously likes it. [On the bowling plans after Pakistan’s strong start] I saw initially it was planned that we have to bowl in the right areas because in the last few overs when I was batting there, so I feel like that there is a drift and there is a bit of turn over there. So there will be something for the bowlers in the middle. So I talked with my bowlers and I was telling them, like, it’s just going into the right area, bowl into the wicket. If it is short, it doesn’t matter, but still bowl in the wicket so it will give us something. [On rating the team’s performance] I think, as a batting, I don’t know, I don’t remember what happened in the batting because I don’t want to recall, but I have to give them 10 on 10 because the energy they bring in the game and in such low total still they were keep fighting till the last ball and they were not relaxing in the middle. So I was very happy. And each and everyone put their hand up in this game and I think the hard work actually paid off.

Losing Captain, Fatima Sana (Pakistan women):

[On where Pakistan’s chase went wrong] I think today is the day that we don’t have any excuse, but I think we were not up to the mark in the batting, and we should be responsible for the performances, and as a whole team and the senior players should step up in these type of matches. [On preparing for the next match after consecutive close defeats] Obviously, we will try to sit together and discuss all these things, and we will try to change our thoughts because it’s totally on our thoughts thing. It’s not our skill. We just need to be more skillful in the mindset.