MIRPUR, July 9:
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur started the new international season with a smashing half-century as the Indian women’s team cantered to a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the opening T20 International here today.
Opting to bowl, the Indian spinners used the conditions to their advantage and restricted Bangladesh to a meager 114 for 5.
In reply, Harmanpreet (54 not out 35 balls) and her deputy Smriti Mandhana (38 off 34 balls) added 70 runs for the third wicket to chase down the target in just 16.2 overs.
The skipper hit six boundaries and two sixes and made best use of the two reprieves that she got off left-arm spinner Nahida Akter’s bowling.
Mandhana was the pace-setter for India as she hit some delectable boundaries, five of them in all, including a rasping square cut off seamier Marufa Akter and an inside out lofted cover-drive. They were shots out of top drawer.
This was after the Indian bowlers set it up perfectly for the batters, who had to hardly break a sweat while chasing down an easy target.
The spin attack, led by the experienced Deepti Sharma (0/14 in 4 overs), along with debutants — slow left arm orthodox Anusha Bareddy (0/24 in 4 overs) and off-break bowler Minnu Manni (1/21 in 3 overs) — executed skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s plan of bowling on one side of the wicket perfectly.
Leg-spinner Shafali Verma (1/18 in 3 overs) was also mostly on target, save a six that top-scorer Sorna Akhtar (28 off 28 balls) hit off her bowling.
The idea was to pack the off-side field with five fielders and bowl on the fourth or fifth off-stump line and the Bangladeshi batters, mostly right-handers, found it difficult to pierce the cordon.
This was after debutant Mani got her maiden wicket when Shamima Sultana (17), after tonking the offie for a six, couldn’t connect her slog sweep and Jemimah Rodrigues took a smart catch at square leg.
Pooja Vastrakar then softened Shathi Rani (22) with a short ball, before castling her with a perfect fuller delivery.
The experienced Nigar Sultana (2) was run-out and Shafali tossed one up to get rid of Shobhana Mostary (23 off 33 balls), who was getting increasingly frustrated.
In fact, Bangladesh consumed as many as 62 dot balls which is more than half of the innings, with only eight fours and three sixes in all. Two of those hits by Sorna ensured that the hosts crossed the 100-run mark. (PTI)
Scoreboard
Bangladesh Women Innings:
Shathi Rani b Pooja Vastrakar 22
Shamima Sultana c Rodrigues b Minnu Mani 17
Sobhana Mostary st Yastika Bhatia b Shafali Verma 23
Nigar Sultana run out (Harmanpreet Kaur/Yastika Bhatia) 2
Shorna Akter not out 28
Ritu Moni run out (Rodrigues/Pooja Vastrakar) 11
Nahida Akter not out 0
Extras: (LB-2, W-9) 11
Total: (5 wkts, 20 Overs) 114
Fall of Wickets: 27-1, 52-2, 57-3, 78-4, 111-5.
Bowler: Pooja Vastrakar 4-1-16-1, Amanjot Kaur 2-0-19-0, Deepti Sharma 4-0-14-0, Minnu Mani 3-0-21-1, Bareddy Anusha 4-0-24-0, Shafali Verma 3-0-18-1.
India Women Innings:
Shafali Verma lbw b Marufa Akter 0
Smriti Mandhana st Nigar Sultana b Sultana Khatun 38
Jemimah Rodrigues b Sultana Khatun 11
Harmanpreet Kaur not out 54
Yastika Bhatia not out 9
Extras: (LB-3, W-3) 6 Total: (3 wkts, 16.2 Overs) 118
Fall of Wickets: 0-1, 21-2, 91-3.
Bowler: Marufa Akter 3-1-18-1, Salma Khatun 3.2-0-32-0, Sultana Khatun 4-0-25-2, Rabeya Khan 3-0-22-0, Nahida Akter 3-0-18-0. PTI
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