‘I’m so excited’: Marufa storms into World Cup with dream spell

Bangladesh kicked off their Women's Cricket World Cup campaign in style, cruising past Pakistan's modest 129 with seven wickets and 18.5 overs to spare in Colombo on Thursday.

The tone was set in the very first over of the tournament for the Tigresses, when a tall young pacer with a bustling run-up and sparkling white ball in hand announced herself on the biggest stage.

Fifth delivery of her opening over: seam upright, ball angling in late, stumps cartwheeling—Omaima Sohail gone for a duck. The very next ball, Pakistan's in-form opener Sidra Amin tried to dig in, but could only inside-edge the swinging delivery onto her stumps. Two wickets in two balls. Pakistan rattled. Bangladesh roaring.

The bowler? Marufa Akter.

The 20-year-old speedster, long touted as one of Bangladesh's brightest talents, delivered the dream start she had visualised for months. She finished with figures of 2 for 31, but those first six balls set the tone for Pakistan's collapse to 129 all out in 38.3 overs.

"I'm so excited—this World Cup is my life, my first time," Marufa said in the post-match press conference, beaming with pride. "Two months ago, I was always thinking, even in my sleep, about this moment. First match, I do better. Always. And today, I feel like I'm the match-winner."

Her opening burst was backed up by disciplined spells from the rest of the Bangladesh attack, who hunted in packs to deny Pakistan any breathing space.

Chasing a modest target, debutant opener Rubya Haider showed composure beyond her years, crafting an unbeaten half-century to see Bangladesh home with ease. But even her poised knock couldn't take the spotlight away from Marufa's magical opening act.

Asked how it felt to begin her World Cup career with two wickets in two balls, Marufa replied: "It was just a dream. My team-mates gave me so much support, and special credit to our team analyst who gave me key inputs before the game. We showed a lot of energy on the field, and we take a lot of positives from this win."

Her fiery spell also sparked conversations on social media, with fans and pundits calling for her to be seen in major women's franchise leagues. Marufa herself admitted she is open to the challenge.

"Yes," she said when asked about the buzz. 

Bangladesh may have opened their campaign with a comfortable victory, but for many, Thursday's match will be remembered as the day Marufa Akter stepped onto the world stage—announcing herself as not just a promising pacer, but a potential global star.