On Thursday, May 2, the Indian women’s cricket team defeated Bangladesh 7 wickets to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match Twenty20 series. With a 91-run opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, they put an end to the chase, and Richa Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur sealed the victory.
In the third Twenty20 International in Sylhet on Thursday, May 2, India defeated Bangladesh quite easily to grab a 3-0 commanding lead in the five-match series. In contrast to the first two games, Bangladesh batted well and reached nearly 120 thanks to an aggressive 37 off of 27 balls from opener Dilara Akter. Even if there were some improvements, the home team’s below-par score of 117 wasn’t enough, and both Akter and captain Nigar Sultana would have preferred a few more contributions from the rest of the order.
With stats of 2/22, Radha Yadav emerged as India’s best bowler, followed by Renuka Singh Thakur, Pooja Vastrakar, and Shreyanka Patil, who each contributed a wicket. The only bowler to go wicketless for India was Deepti Sharma, but she kept things tight, conceding just 18 runs in her four-over period, much like everyone else.
In the chase, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma were outstanding. Both took their time initially given the target wasn’t a big one and sent the loose balls to the boundary. The fifty partnership came in just the sixth over and the duo continued their merry run. While Shafali got three boundaries in an over in the powerplay while Mandhana ensured that India got a boundary in an over outside the field restrictions.
However, it never looked like the Women in Blue were not in control of the chase. It was just formality as to when they will get through the finishing line.
Mandhana missed her half-century by three runs while Shafali did get to the milestone but got out soon after. The last game’s player of the match, D Hemalatha too got out in the next over as India lost three quick wickets but the remaining target was just eight runs and they eventually got through with Richa Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur providing the finishing touch.
India could test their bench strength in the remaining two games of the series given the T20 World Cup is scheduled in the same country only.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 117/8 in 20 overs (Dilara Akter 39, Nigar Sultana 28; Radha Yadav 2/22) India 121/3 in 18.3 overs (Shafali Verma 51, Smriti Mandhana 47; Ritu Moni 1/10). India won by 7 wickets.
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