Bangladesh women's cricket team began their quest for a Commonwealth Games berth with an eight-wicket win against hosts Malaysia in the T20I qualifiers Tuesday.
Asked to bat first, the Malaysians were restricted to 49 for the loss of nine wickets in their 20 overs; the home side barely managing to bat out their full complement of overs with only two batters - captain Winifred Duraisingam (12) and Mas Elysa (11) - reaching double digit.
Adjudged player of the match, leg-spinner Rumana Ahmed and right-arm pacer Suraiya Azmin, making her T20I debut, bagged two wickets apiece.
In reply, openers Shamima Sultana (28) and Murshida Khatun (14) got Bangladesh off to a brisk start in pursuit of the meager target before skipper Nigar Sultana Joty (three) and Fargana Hoque (seven) completed the job remaining unbeaten with 12 overs to spare.
The women in red and green, who beat Scotland by 12 runs in their warm-up game, will face Kenya Wednesday in the Malaysian capital before taking on the Scots and Sri Lanka Sunday and Monday respectively.
Bangladesh are gunning for the eighth and final spot in the Commonwealth Games, scheduled to be held in Birmingham in July-August, with the seven other berths going to hosts England automatically, and the six highest ranked sides in the T20I standing.