Bangladesh women's cricket team thumped Kenya by 80 runs to register their second consecutive victory in the Commonwealth Games Qualifier in Kuala Lumpur Wednesday, and broke some records along the way.
The women in red and green began the T20I qualifiers with a facile eight-wicket win against hosts Malaysia but it wasn't plain sailing at the beginning against the Kenyans as Bangladesh were reduced to 50/6 in nine overs after the Africans sent them in.
Opener Murshida Khatun struck a 19-ball 26, laced with four fours, but regular wickets kept falling at the other end as Bangladesh went from 24/1 to 50/6.
But former captain Salma Khatun and Ritu Moni then put together an unbroken 75-run association to take their side to a competitive total of 125.
This is the highest seventh wicket partnership in women's T20Is, bettering the previous best of 72 between Tanzania's Monica Pascal and Nasra Saidi against Uganda in 2019.
The 75-run stand is also well ahead of Bangladesh's previous best seventh wicket partnership of 38 between Fargana Hoque and Lata Mondol.
Ritu hit three boundaries in her 34-ball 39 while Salma hammered three fours in her 32-ball 33.
Bangladesh bowlers then came out firing and bundled the opposition out for only 45 in 12.4 overs; second time in succession the Tigresses dismissed the opponents for below 50.
Only Sharon Juma (24) reached double digit for the hapless Kenyans, while six failed to open their account.
Left-arm spinner Nahida Akter starred by finishing with figure of 5/12 in 3.4 overs, including a maiden - best ever by a Bangladeshi woman in T20Is.
The previous best belonged to seamer Panna Ghosh who took 5/16 against Ireland in 2018.
The Birmingham Commonwealth Games will take place in July-August and only one team among the five in the qualifiers will earn a berth.
Bangladesh will take on Scotland at the same venue Sunday.