Indonesia held Bangladesh to 129 on their Asia Cup debut, and then were bowled out for 58
Indonesia took seven wickets in their first match at an Asia Cup and still lost by 71 runs in Dubai, where Nahida Akter’s 3 for 15 settled it.
Sep 1, 2026
Indonesia won the toss in Dubai on Monday night and asked Bangladesh to bat, which is a bold call for a side playing its first match at an Asia Cup. For most of 20 overs it looked like the right one. Bangladesh were 105 for 3 with 20 balls left and finished on 129 for 8. Then Indonesia batted, and the evening turned. They were bowled out for 58 in 17.3 overs and lost by 71 runs.
Ni Ariani took three, and Bangladesh lost five for 21
The Indonesian attack did not look overawed. Ni Made Putri Suwandewi had Juairiya Ferdous caught in the third over, and the innings never accelerated the way Bangladesh would have wanted after that. Sobhana Mostary batted 42 balls for 40, Dilara Akter made 27 off 31, and Bangladesh took 16.1 overs to reach 100.
Ni Ariani finished with 3 for 28 from her four overs, two of them in consecutive deliveries in the final over. Ni Luh Dewi took 2 for 21, removing Mostary and Ritu Moni off successive balls. Sofia Velic, playing her first women’s T20 international, had the Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana caught for 10.
Bangladesh went from 105 for 3 to 126 for 8, five wickets for 21 runs, and only Shorna Akter’s unbeaten 31 off 18 balls kept the total respectable. She hit three fours and a six, and finished as the highest-rated player on the ground on Cricinfo’s MVP measure.
Nahida Akter’s 3 for 15, and three run-outs
Chasing 130, Indonesia were 19 for 0 inside three overs. Marufa Akter then had Rahmawati Pangestuti caught and trapped Maria Corazon lbw, both inside the powerplay, and Indonesia never recovered from it. Corazon’s 12 off 13 was the highest score anyone in the side managed.
Nahida Akter, Bangladesh’s lead left-arm spinner, bowled her four overs straight through for 15 runs and three wickets. Marufa’s figures read 3-1-6-2. Marufa, Sanjida Akter Meghla, Nahida and Fahima Khatun bowled 13 overs between them for 41 runs and seven wickets. Three more Indonesian batters were run out.
Indonesia were 37 for 4 at the drinks break and 54 for 9 in the 15th over. Sang Maypriani and Dara Paramitha then survived three full overs for the last wicket before Paramitha was run out for 3 off 14 balls. Nahida took the player-of-the-match award.
Low totals are becoming the pattern in Dubai
This is the third small score in the tournament’s first four matches. Sri Lanka bowled the UAE out for 79 on Saturday and knocked off the runs in 7.5 overs. India dismissed Thailand for 65 on Sunday. Whatever the Dubai International Cricket Stadium is offering bowlers under lights, sides batting second have not enjoyed it.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka now sit on two points each in Group B, with Sri Lanka ahead on net run rate. Indonesia and the UAE have none. The top two from each group go through to the semi-finals on 10 and 11 September.
Indonesia’s schedule does not get any kinder. They play Sri Lanka, the defending champions, on Wednesday at 8 PM IST, then the UAE on Friday. For a side at its first Asia Cup, taking seven wickets and holding a full-member team to 129 was not nothing. The 58 that followed is the part they will want back.