Dhaka, Oct. 3 -- wicket win over Pakistan in Colombo on Thursday was important for the team's World Cup campaign, but the story that carried beyond the ground was about one young bowler.

Nineteen-year-old Marufa Akter produced the kind of opening spell cricketers dream about. With the new ball under lights at the Premadasa, she swung two in sharply to remove Omaima Sohail and Sidra Amin in the very first over. Pakistan never really recovered, and Bangladesh were always in control from there.

Captain Nigar Sultana, who has spoken often about the need for early breakthroughs, was quick to credit her fast bowler.

"I told the girls that we needed wickets in the powerplay. Marufa is very young, but she's mature and confident. How she delive...