Australia registered their second win in a row to join Sri Lanka at the top of Group A in the Women's Twenty20 World Cup as Meg Lanning's side defeated Bangladesh by eight wickets in Gqeberha Tuesday.
The Tigresses suffered their second consecutive defeat after going down by seven wickets to Sri Lanka last Sunday, and will now turn their attention to the third game against winless New Zealand this Friday in Cape Town.
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty made a half-century but lacked support from others as only 16-year old Shorna Akter (12 off 27) reached double digit.
Nigar scored 57 as the women in red and green struggled to reach a total of 107 for seven after batting first.
She came to the crease after fast bowler Darcie Brown had reduced Bangladesh to 11 for two in the fourth over and was the mainstay of the innings until the penultimate over when she lofted a catch to cover off off-spinner Ash Gardner.
Nigar hit a six off leg-spinner Alana King and seven fours in a 50-ball innings but none of her teammates were comfortable against the varied attack of the defending champions.
Brown finished with two for 23 while leg-spinner Georgia Wareham, adjudged player of the match, made a successful return to international cricket, taking three for 20.
Wareham suffered a left knee cruciate ligament injury in October 2021.
It was the first tournament match to be played in Gqeberha and the first of three to be played by Australia in the Eastern Cape city.
In reply, Australia lost Beth Mooney (two) early in the chase off the bowling of Marufa Akter (1/19) as the 18-year old continued her impressive start to T20 international career.
Mooney failed for the second successive match, caught at slip.
Marufa, who bagged three wickets against the Lankans and was on a hat-trick at one stage, beat the bat of Alyssa Healy and induced an edge off captain Lanning which fell just short of the first slip.
The experienced duo then added 69 to lay the platform for the victory before wicketkeeper-batter Healy perished for a 36-ball 37.
Lanning was not out on 48 off 49 deliveries alongside Gardner, who was unbeaten on 19, as Australia reached their target with 10 balls to spare.
The Aussies will now face the Lankans in a top of the table clash Thursday in Gqeberha.
BRIEF SCORE
Bangladesh 107/7 (Nigar 57, Wareham 3/20) lost to Australia 111/2 in 18.2 overs (Lanning 48*, Healy 37) by eight wickets