India’s Deepti Sharma celebrates the fall of a Bangladesh wicket in the Asia Cup semifinal. Photo: ACC
India overcame a difficult batting surface and Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling to seal a 40-run victory and book their place in the Women’s Asia Cup final.
India were put into bat after Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty won the toss, but Bangladesh’s early breakthrough of Smriti Mandhana, who made two, was offset by two dropped catches of Shafali Verma in the opening three overs.
Shafali made Bangladesh pay, striking back-to-back sixes in the fourth over before Pratika Rawal also cleared the boundary as India reached 45-1 at the end of the powerplay.
Bangladesh’s spinners then tightened the pressure, with Rawal falling for 20 off 24 balls. Shafali remained India’s main source of momentum, bringing up her 20th T20I half-century before departing for a brisk 64 off 40 balls.
Further fielding lapses allowed Richa Ghosh to add a six after being dropped, while Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma helped India accelerate late in the innings.
Deepti’s five-ball 13 took India to 149-6 from their 20 overs.
Bangladesh began their chase positively through Juairiya Ferdous and Dilara Akter, but India’s spinners soon applied the brakes. Ferdous fell for Sree Charani in the sixth over before Dilara was caught by Deepti Sharma off Kranti Gaud.
With the required rate climbing, Bangladesh struggled to find boundaries and lost Sobhana Mostary to Deepti in the 14th over.
Captain Nigar briefly raised hopes with the first six of Bangladesh’s innings but was dismissed for 19 in the following over while attempting to attack Prema Rawat.
Deepti finished with 3-26 to become the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 11 wickets at an average of 3.63.
Nandani Sharma then wrapped up the victory, taking two wickets with the final two balls as Bangladesh were bowled out for 109, giving India a 40-run win.
India will face the winner of Sunday’s second semi-final between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the final on September 13.
