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Marufa Akter sparkled with her charm and caught everyone’s eyes on her ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup debut when Bangladesh beat Pakistan by seven wickets at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday. 

Marufa struck back-to-back in the very first over of the innings to announce herself in the World Cup. The 20-year-old pacer took two for 31 and was later adjudged player of the match as they got their ‘promised’ victory. 

Both deliveries swung quite sharply to bamboozle opener Omaima Sohail and then the in-form batter Sidra Amin. 

Marufa, who admires Mitchell Starc for his big inswinging deliveries, put Pakistan under huge pressure early in the innings, from which they never recovered. 

‘First of all, I’m so excited to be in this World Cup because this is my first time. And two months ago, I was always thinking, [even] when I was going to sleep, that in the first match I [must] do better. And [now] I’m the match winner,’ Marufa later told the reporters in the post-match press conference on Thursday.  

Marufa knew that her balls could swing ‘more, more, and more’, but she had to control her line and length. A simple reminder from the captain, Nigar Sultana Joty, did the trick. 

‘Yeah, I know my ball swings more, more, more,’ she said. ‘Then I [started to] control my line and length. And Joty apu said, ‘You are a talented bowler in our team, and you just control your line and length.’

Marufa also mentioned a message from the vice-captain, Nahida Akter. Before the match, while warming up by bowling on the side wickets, Nahida reminded Marufa that they were a better side when they worked together. 

‘I think, yes, we are together, then we are doing well,’ said Marufa. 

She was the lone pacer in the eleven against Pakistan and had a big role early in the innings. 

The young pacer from Nilphamari has been spearheading the pace bowling unit for Bangladesh for quite a while now. She has 42 wickets from 57 games so far. 

Footage of her bowling against Pakistan soon became viral.

Sri Lankan pace bowling legend Lasith Malinga shared a video saying, ‘Pure Skill. Excellent control. So far the best delivery in this tournament.’ 

Marufa was praised by her captain too. 

‘Marufa is very young and mature. She knows her role very well and is very confident. How she delivered was incredible,’ Joty said after the victory. 

Bangladesh will face England in their next match on October 7 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.