Bangladesh won the toss & put India into Bat.
India started with a new opening pair Mithali & Mandhana
Slow start with only 29 off 8 overs Smriti picked up the score, reaching 30 off 23 with 3×4, propelling India to 52 of 10. Salma Khatun & Rumana Ahmed (C) were taken apart with 16 of 2 overs & 11 of 1 respectively.
Mandhana fell in the 13th over on 41 off 32 with 6×4 to Jahanara Alam, bringing in the aggressive Veda Krishnamurthi on the field. The situation was aptly set for Veda to attack, with India on 75 from 13 overs, but fell prey to a runout in the 15th over on just 5 off 6 balls with a score on 84, which brought another aggressive batter, the captain, Harmanpreet Kaur.
17.3 overs India reach 101 for 2 with Mithali 42/53 (2×4) & Harmanpreet 12/14 (2×4)
Harmanpreet trying to push the score faster comes down the track, missed the ball & gets stumped off Ritu Moni on 19 off 18 with (2×4 & 1×6), with the score still on 113 off 18.5 balls. Next in is Meghna Singh.
20th over Khadija Tul Kubra, starts with India on 114 for 3, & gives 4 runs, picks up 2 wickets & a runout.
Mithali ends up not-out on 49 off 59 with (2×4)
Bangladesh women would be very happy with their effort. With only 1 extra in the innings that was a wide,0 No balls, 0 Leg byes, 0 byes. Khadija ended up with a very good 12 off 4 with 2 wickets.
But now it was up to the Bangladesh Batters to compliment their bowlers.
Veteran Jhulan picks up early wicket. Nigar Sultan falling on 0 off 2 balls with a score on only 3 (Thanks to the 2 no balls by Jhulan) Not a very good start. On the other end Ekta Bisht another experienced campaigner bowled a maiden.
3rd Over Jhulan pick’s up her 2nd wicket Sanjida Islam with 1 off 9 balls, Bangladesh now 2 down on 3 runs.
After 5 overs Bangladesh are 13 for 2. India were also on a similar score but had not lost any wickets.
2 new batters Shaila Sharmin & Rumana Ahmed are now on the pitch & Anuja Patil bowling the 6th over of the inning picking up Rumana on the very 2nd ball. Caught by
Veda Krishnamurthy on 1 off 9 balls. Bangladesh is now 13 for 3 & the New Batter is Salma Khatun.
An inning building process was on for Bangladesh, 42/3 in 11.5 Shaila 18 off 34 & Salma 17 off 19 (1×4) But the Indian bowlers kept it tight, with Mansi Joshi the debutant giving 4 of her 1st over & Harmanpreet giving out 13 off her 3. But Poonam Yadav was on Fire. Picked up 3 wickets, 2 in her 3rd over where she was on a hat-trick & 1 in the 4th over giving only 13 runs.
Shaila Bowled on 42 off 12.3 scoring 18 off 36
Salma caught by Veda on 42 off 12.4 scoring 17 off 22
And Ayesha Rehman Stumped by Sushma Varma on 50 off 14.4. Bringing down Bangladesh to 50 for 6 in 15
It was all downhill from there. Bangladeshi Batters just couldn’t handle the Indian Bowlers.
Mansi Joshi brought back into the attack for her 2nd over & immediately picks up Ritu Moni on the 2nd ball of her 2nd over for 1 off 5 balls. Bangladesh 52 for 7 from 15.2
Anuja Patil brought back into the attack, picks up the captain Jahanara Alam caught by India Captain Harmanpreet on 1 off 6 balls. Bangladesh 52 for 8 off 16.2
Nahida Akter run out on 1 off 3 balls. Bangladesh 52 for 9 off 17.1
Ekta Bisht brought back for her 3rd over picks up Panna Ghosh on 1 off 7.
Bangladesh all out 54 off 18.2. Khadija Tul Kabra remained not out 1 off 4.
Without a doubt Indian Batters were below Par, But then the Bowlers brought credibility, showing that batting wasn’t easy on the pitch. Eventually, the 70 run partnership between Mithali Raj & Smriti Mandhana proved to be too much for Bangladesh.
Indian bowling attack was over-all very strong with Jhulan picking 2 wickets off her 3 overs giving just 10 runs, Ekta picking 1 off 2.2 giving only 2, Anuja 2 off 3 for 7, Mansi 1 off 3 for 8, Poonam 3 off 4 for 13 & Harmanpreet effectively the most expensive giving 13 off her 3, & no wicket..
India Win by 64 runs.
The player of the match was a tough choice, with our ODI captain Mithali (the Queen Bee) Raj scoring a 49 off 59; Youngster Smriti (The Next Big Thing) Mandhara scoring a quick 41 off 32 with 6×4 & Poonam Yadav’s 3 wickets.
