Sobhana Mostary struck a historic century and shared a record 195-run partnership with captain Nigar Sultana Jyoti as Bangladesh scored 220-6 against Australia in the second ODI of their three-match series in Brisbane on Sunday.

Sobhana made 118 off 134 balls, hitting 18 fours, to become the first Bangladeshi woman to score a century on Australian soil. Her innings also helped Bangladesh post their highest ODI total against Australia.

Bangladesh were in trouble early in their innings, losing three wickets for just eight runs in 7.2 overs when Sobhana came to the crease. She joined Jyoti to steady the innings, and the pair put together a 195-run stand, the highest partnership by any wicket for Bangladesh against Australia in women’s ODIs.

Jyoti contributed 74 off 114 balls, including seven fours, as the two batters rebuilt the innings and guided Bangladesh to a competitive total.

Sobhana reached her century off 124 balls, becoming the third Bangladeshi woman to score an ODI hundred. Farzana Haque Pinky has two centuries, while Jyoti has one. Sobhana’s hundred is also the second-fastest by a Bangladeshi batter in women’s ODIs, behind Jyoti’s 80-ball century.

The innings marked another milestone on Bangladesh’s first bilateral tour of Australia. Before Sunday, no Bangladeshi woman had scored an ODI half-century against Australia. The previous highest individual score by a Bangladeshi batter against the hosts was 29.

Bangladesh had lost the opening match after a disappointing performance with both bat and ball. Sobhana and Jyoti’s partnership gave the visitors a strong response as they sought to level the series.

Sun News/ rabbi