An incredible ninth-wicket stand between Ritu Moni and Nahida Akter helped Bangladesh pull off a heist against Ireland in the 2025 Women’s World Cup Qualifier.
Chasing 236 against Ireland, Bangladesh were in a trouble – at 2-2, and after a recovery of sorts, at 94-5. The fifth wicket, of captain and last recognised batter Nigar Sultana Joty, seemed to have as good as sealed their fate.
However, Ritu brought Bangladesh back into the game, adding 45 for the sixth wicket with Fahima Khatun (28) and 40 for the seventh, with Jannatul Ferdus (19). Rabeya Khan did not last, but No.10 Nahida stayed put.
Before the match, Ritu had a highest ODI score of 33. She surpassed that easily, and faced little difficulty until she cramped up late in the chase, when Bangladesh needed 14 in 14 balls. However, she recovered soon, put the next ball away for four, and retained the strike.
With eight to score in 10 balls, Nahida put Cara Murray away for four, and ran a single off a no-ball. Ritu swung off the free hit to clear the boundary to bring up the winning runs. Her unbeaten 67 off 61 balls is the highest score for a Bangladeshi outside the top five.
The unbroken stand of 54 between Ritu and Nahida is now the highest ninth-wicket stand (and even the first fifty-run partnership for that wicket) in a successful chase.
Highest ninth-wicket partnerships in successful chases in women’s ODIs
| Stand | Batters | Team | Opposition | Venue | Year |
| 54* | Ritu Moni, Nahida Akter | Bangladesh | Ireland | Lahore | 2025 |
| 41* | Shanel Daley, Anisa Mohammed | West Indies | Sri Lanka | Basseterre | 2010 |
| 39 | Sunette Viljoen, Ally Kuylaars | South Africa | England | Canterbury | 2000 |
| 32* | Judith Herbison, Susan Bray | Ireland | Netherlands | Marlow | 1993 |
| 32* | Heather Knight, Kate Cross | England | Australia | Bristol | 2023 |
- South Africa needed three runs when Kuylaars fell. Viljoen completed the chase with No.11 Yulandi van der Merwe.
Having lost all three of their games, Ireland’s hopes of a World Cup berth now hang by the thinnest of threads. They need help from other sides, especially Bangladesh, if they are to qualify.
