SYLHET, Mar 30: Harmanpreet Kaur smashed a strokeful 77 before her bowling colleagues produced a clinical display as India crushed Bangladesh by 79 runs in their group league match to record their first win in the Women’s World Twenty-20 match here today.
Electing to bat, India posted a challenging 151 for five in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to Harmanpreet’s 59-ball knock which she made with the help of 12 boundaries and a six while captain Mithali Raj chipped in with 41 at Sylhet Stadium.
Indian bowlers then restricted Bangladesh to 72 for eight with pacewomen Jhulan Goswami and Shubhlakshmi Sharma grabbing three wickets apiece. Leg-spinner Poonam Yadav took two wickets to help India score a comprehensive win.
Despite the win, India, with two points from three matches, have little chance of progressing to the semifinal.
Bangladesh run chase never got going as they struggled to cope with the Indian bowling attack. Their biggest partnership was the opening stand of 22 between Ayasha Rahman (10) and Fargana Hoque (15). Captain Salma Khatun top-scored with 19.
Veteran Goswami and Yadav rocked the Bangladesh top order before Shubhlakshmi took care of the hosts’ lower order.
Earlier, Harmanpreet and Mithali sent the Bangladesh bowlers for a leatherhunt with an opening wicket stand of 107 in 14.3 overs to lay the foundation of a challenging total.
All the Bangladeshi bowlers, except for Salma Khatun, were expensive as Harmanpreet and Mithali found the boundaries quite often.
The Indians could have scored more than the 44 runs they added in the last 5.3 overs but the total of 151 for five was enough against the home side who have lost heavily in their earlier two matches also.
For Bangladesh, Rumana Ahmed grabbed two wickets for 33 runs while Salma Khatun and Khadija Tul Kubra took a wicket each. (PTI)
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