After clinching the T20I series, India suffered a shocking defeat in the first ODI. However, they bounced back in style, with a thrashing 108-run victory over the hosts, courtesy of a power-packed performance from Jemimah Rodrigues, ensuring that the ODI series goes into a decider on Saturday (22nd July 2023). In this article, we will look at how things panned out in the 3rd ODI.
Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana won the toss and opted to bat first in the third ODI. Both sides made one change in their lineup from the last game. Bangladesh brought back Shamima Sultana to replace Sharmin Akhter in the playing 11, while for India, Shafali Verma made her way back into the side to replace Priya Punia. The Bangladesh openers got off to a solid start as they stitched a 93-run partnership for the first wicket, justifying their skipper’s decision to bat first in a series decider. The 93-run stand between Shamima Sultana and Fargana Hoque was the highest opening partnership of the series for Bangladesh. The right-arm off-spinner provided the first breakthrough for India dismissing Shamima Sultana with a loopy ball outside off-stump, enticing her to go for the big hit, and she ended up chipping it straight to Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur who completed an easy catch at mid-off.
Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana joined Fargana Hoque at the crease and the duo stitched together a solid 71-run partnership for the second wicket to further strengthen the position of the home side and lay a solid platform for the home side to finish with a big total on the board. Sneh Rana returned and picked up the big wicket of Nigar Sultana in the penultimate over of her spell, by luring her into a sweep shot to a fuller ball outside off-stump, mistiming it straight to Amanjot Kaur at backward square leg. However, Bangladesh failed to capitalize on the solid launch pad provided by the top three batters.
Bangladesh ended their innings with 225 runs on the board, courtesy of an improved performance by the Indian bowlers in the back ten overs of the first innings. The 30-year-old right-hand batter Fargana Hoque completed her maiden ODI century, also becoming the first player from Bangladesh to score a century in the ODIs. She was the top performer with the bat for Bangladesh, scoring 107 runs from 160 balls at a strike rate of 66.87, her knock included seven boundaries. Sneh Rana (2/45) and Deepti Sharma were the pick of the bowlers for India.
Chasing a target of 226, the visitors got off to a shaky start as they lost a couple of wickets inside the first five overs of the run chase. Marufa Akter provided the first breakthrough for Bangladesh by dismissing Shafali Verma. Harleen Deol joined Smriti Mandhana at the crease after the departure of Yastika Bhatia. She displayed a lot of promise during her stay at the crease in the 2nd ODI earning her a promotion to number four in the series decider. The duo led India’s fightback in the run chase with a 107-run partnership for the third wicket. Smriti Mandhana completed her 26th ODI half-century off 74 balls.
She achieved a unique feat of scoring at least a half-century against all the teams she has faced in ODIs and in all the nations she has played a One Day International. Fahima Khatun provided the much-needed breakthrough by dismissing Smriti Mandhana, courtesy of a superb catch from Sobhana Mostary. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed cheaply by Nahida Akter, before the arrival of the rains which forced a short delay in the run chase. Harleen Deol completed a well-deserved half-century, her second in the ODI format.
𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 & 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝘆 🏆
From 192 for 4, India lost their next 5️⃣ wickets for 34 runs.
A thrilling series comes to an end. #CricketTwitter #BANvIND pic.twitter.com/99nnHmWGkd
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 22, 2023
The rain break affected the momentum of the run chase as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals after coming back onto the field. They lost the wicket of Harleen Deol to a run-out, who was looking all set to take India through the finish line in the run chase. The home side managed to prevent India from getting past their total, courtesy of a strong fightback in the field. The visitors lost their last five wickets for just 34 runs as the match ended in a hard-fought tie and as a result, the ODI series was eventually shared between both these teams.
𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐤 🏏
🇮🇳 India's Harleen Deol gets the Player of the Match award for her well-composed inning 🙌🏻#CricketTwitter #BANvIND 📸: Getty pic.twitter.com/c8KKiDpE27
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 22, 2023
Harleen Deol was awarded the Player of the Match for her brilliant display with the bat, scoring 77 off 108 balls at a strike rate of 71.29. Her knock included nine boundaries. Bangladesh batter Fargana Hoque was awarded the Player of the Series for her brilliant performance with the bat throughout the series, scoring 181 runs with an impressive average of 60.33.
1️⃣𝙨𝙩 🇧🇩 𝙛𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙊𝘿𝙄 💯
Fargana Hoque wins the Player of the Series award for her incredible run in the ODI series. #CricketTwitter #BANvIND 📸: Getty pic.twitter.com/o3BNkZTbmq
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 22, 2023