Joty masterminds Tigresses’ first win on SL tour

Captain Nigar Sultana Joty led from the front with a smashing 75 as Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the first T20I at Colombo on Tuesday.

In chase of a competitive 145 for six posted by the Lankans, the Tigresses lost openers Shamim Sultana and Rubya Haidar early but Joty made her presence felt even in the limited Powerplay action when she came on, smashing three fours on the trot in the sixth over.

Sobhana Mostary departed after a 51-run stand with Joty and then the rest of innings saw Ritu Moni and Joty accomplish a brilliant chase.

Needing 25 off the last two overs, Joty finished things off with a flourish during a 51-ball 75 and took the Tigresses over the rope despite Ritu's run-out in the last over after a 23-ball 33.

The Tigresses had lost the ODI series 1-0 so Joty was happy to get back to winning ways on their tour of Sri Lanka in the first of three T20Is.

"It feels good to win the first game of the series and to be able to contribute. I am very hopeful about my side and we will try to play good cricket in the next game as well," she said.

She added that those few late boundaries in the Powerplay were crucial to the chase. The idea was to take the game deep with wickets in hand.

"We went about the process and the plans that the coaches had discussed. After losing quick wickets, I tried to score runs in the Powerplay. Later, Ritu and I discussed that we needed seven-eight per over so that we could accelerate after 15 overs," she said.

Bangladesh had torrid luck with incessant rain during their tour and a first win was a huge boost. "The win has boosted the whole side," Joty reflected.

The Tigresses will play the second and third T20I on May 11 and 12th respectively.