Swing it in like Marufa

Bangladesh could not have asked for a better start to their ICC Women's World Cup campaign. Fast bowler Marufa Akter, already making a name as the Tigresses' firebrand, pegged Pakistan on the backfoot from the onset at Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium on Thursday.

Omaima Sohail, Pakistan's opener, was undone by a full delivery that jagged back to rattle the stumps; the very next ball, Sidra Amin -- who had scored two centuries and three fifties in her last six ODIs -- fell first ball. Bangladesh were two for two, firmly in control.

Marufa's new-ball prowess is well established. In 27 ODIs, she has taken at least a wicket in 14 games, removing openers 11 times, including stars such as Australia's Alyssa Healy, India's Smriti Mandhana, and South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits; and Sidra being the latest addition.

Before the Pakistan match, Marufa has bowled eight-plus overs in one in five appearances -- hinting on the notion that she has either been underutilised, reserved for bursts with the new ball and in the death overs. On Thursday, though, she finished with two wickets for 31 runs in seven overs across four spells, including short bursts in the middle overs -- a tactical move reflecting her added variations and captain Nigar Sultana Joty's confidence in her ability to break key partnerships in the middle overs.

Her impact went beyond the wickets. Marufa took a running catch to dismiss Aliya Riaz and threw herself full-length at the boundary to save two runs, springing up with a grin that energised the huddle. "All wickets are special," she said with the signature child-like simplicity.

Bangladesh's spinners complemented Marufa's burst at the Premadasa. Shorna Akter claimed three wickets, Nahida Akter two, while leg-spinners Fahima Khatun and Rabeya Khan chipped in with one each. Nishita Nishi, Marufa's new-ball partner, also took a wicket. The collective effort restricted Pakistan to 129 all out; Bangladesh chased the target comfortably in 32 overs with seven wickets to spare.

They now on Tuesday face a formidable England side, widely tipped to win comfortably. Yet the Tigresses, who endured a sub-par build-up to the World Cup, have momentum on their side. With Marufa Akter in their ranks, they possess a genuine weapon capable of unsettling the title aspirants, allowing them to play with freedom and fearlessness, embracing the role of the underdogs with little to lose.

England all-rounder Charlie Dean highlighted Marufa's influence, noting that negating her swing early would be key for England in Guwahati: "Looking to counter the swinging ball first, then settling against the spin and batting long -- that's our approach."

Despite recent injuries threatening her World Cup debut, Marufa had shown her form in warm-ups: dismissing star batter Wolvaardt in the first delivery against South Africa in a rain-abandoned match, and holding her nerve for a final-ball wicket in a thrilling one-run win over Sri Lanka.

The 20-year-old, who grew up playing cricket with her elder brother, helped her family through hardships and even ploughed fields during the coronavirus pandemic -- a photo of which went viral on social media during that time and has recently resurfaced again. Since debuting in December 2022 against New Zealand, she has claimed 22 wickets, with best figures of 4-29 against India in 2023. Already, she is chiselling out her place in Bangladesh's cricketing tale.

This, after all, is only Bangladesh's second World Cup appearance. In 2022, the Tigresses won one of eight matches -- a famous nine-run victory over Pakistan in Hamilton. This time again, Marufa leads the charge, weaving her inswing like a snake charmer and leaving Pakistan gasping from the first over.

Marufa's performances have already drawn international praise, which is rare experience for Bangladesh pacers in global events. ICC shared clips of her wickets on social media, with Sri Lankan great Lasith Malinga calling her deliveries "pure skill" and India's Mithali Raj lauding her pace and approach. Off the field, she looks up to Australia's Mitchell Starc for modelling her swing.

Captain Nigar Sultana, aware of the hype after Marufa's Player of the Match performance, stressed focus: "It's very important for her to stay grounded. Whatever happens around her shouldn't affect her performance."

Joty, however, for all her wisdom, knows that what happens to the Tigresses in the next six group-stage matches will boil down to Marufa setting the tone.