In a high-stakes encounter at the 2nd Semi-Final of the Asian Games Women’s Cricket competition in Nisshin, India Women asserted complete dominance over Bangladesh Women to secure a resounding 114-run victory.
Electing to bat first, India’s openers gave the team an explosive platform. Smriti Mandhana set the tone early with a brisk 37 off 19 deliveries, smashing 5 fours and 2 sixes, before falling caught by Sobhana Mostary off Nahida Akter at 72/1 in 5.6 overs. Shafali Verma, who remained the anchor and standout performer, continued her ruthless assault on the opposition bowlers. Joining forces with Gunalan Kamalini, the pair pushed the total to 85 before Kamalini was caught by Rabeya Khan off Sanjida Akter Meghla for 3 off 10 balls in the 9th over.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur then partnered with a blazingly in-form Shafali Verma to construct a crucial 94-run third-wicket partnership. Harmanpreet played a solid supporting hand, scoring 40 off 33 balls with 6 boundaries, before being stumped by Nigar Sultana off Rabeya Khan’s bowling at 179/3 in the 18th over.
Soon after, Richa Ghosh chipped in with 2 off 4 balls before being caught by Shorna Akter off Marufa Akter at 184/4. Shafali Verma completed a magnificent century, finishing unbeaten on 100 off just 49 balls, packed with 3 fours and 9 massive sixes. Alongside Bharti Fulmali, who smashed an unbeaten 9 off 5 balls featuring a six, India finished their 20 overs on a formidable 195/4.
Among the Bangladesh bowlers, Sanjida Akter Meghla was the most economical with figures of 1/25 in 4 overs, while Rabeya Khan (1/35), Marufa Akter (1/43), and Nahida Akter (1/48) picked up a wicket each. Sultana Khatun (0/25 in 2 overs) and Shorna Akter (0/19 in 2 overs) went wicketless.
Faced with a daunting target of 196, Bangladesh Women stumbled right from the start of their chase. Kranti Gaud delivered an early blow by dismissing Juairiya Ferdous for a duck (1 ball), caught by Kamalini at 4/1 in 1.1 overs. Sobhana Mostary followed shortly after, caught by Fulmali off Gaud for 4 (7 balls) as Bangladesh slipped to 9/2. Captain Nigar Sultana tried to stabilize the innings with 9 off 9 balls (2 fours), but was caught by Gaud off N Sree Charani at 38/3 in the 6th over.
Shorna Akter added 5 off 8 balls before falling caught by Harmanpreet Kaur off Shreyanka Patil at 43/4. Dilara Akter top-scored for Bangladesh with a fighting 27 off 23 balls (4 fours, 1 six), but her dismissal, caught by Patil off Deepti Sharma at 49/5 in 9.2 overs, effectively sealed the match’s outcome. A rapid middle-order collapse ensued as Nandni Sharma tore through the lineup, dismissing Nahida Akter (4 off 5) caught and bowled, and Rabeya Khan (0 off 1) bowled off back-to-back deliveries at 56/7 in the 11th over.
Sharmin Akhter added a slow 10 off 20 balls before being stumped by Richa Ghosh off Shree Charani at 66/8. Sultana Khatun offered late defiance with an unbeaten 12 off 8 balls (2 fours), but Deepti Sharma wrapped up the tail by trapping Marufa Akter (5 off 10) LBW and having Sanjida Akter Meghla (0 off 2) caught by Kamalini. Bangladesh were bundled out for 81 in 15.4 overs.
India’s disciplined bowling unit completely stifled Bangladesh. Deepti Sharma finished with clinical figures of 3/7 from 2.4 overs, closely matched by Nandni Sharma’s 3/25 in 4 overs. N Sree Charani registered brilliant numbers of 2/7 in 3 overs with a maiden, while Kranti Gaud (1/20 in 3 overs) and Shreyanka Patil (1/22 in 3 overs) maintained strict pressure throughout.
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