After posting the highest total of the ongoing Women's T20World Cup, India registered a comfortable win over Bangladesh for their secondwin of the tournament and to ensure a smooth journey for themselves to thefinal four at the WACA on Monday.
Poonam Yadav, who took a four-wicket haul against Australia,once again spun a web around the opposition batters as she finished with 3wickets while Shikha Pandey chipped in with 2 wickets to help India beatBangladesh by 18 runs and avenge the Asia Cup final defeat.
After being asked to bat first, Shafali Verma gave India aflying start as the 16-year-old muscled a six in the very first over of theIndia innings. Shafali lost her opening partner Taniya Bhatia in the 2nd overbut that did not dent her spirit as he hammered 4 sixes and 2 boundaries to addquick 30 in her 17-ball stay at the crease.
India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur failed to get among runs yetagain as she gifted her prized wicket on a loose delivery. Jemimah Rodriguesplayed a crucial knock again before being run-out for 34. Rodrigues went for asingle off a full toss but Nahida made a great save to remove Rodrigues.
India started losing their way as Bangladesh chipped in withwickets in the middle overs to claw their way back in the game. India lost bothRicha Gosh and Deepti Sharma in the 17th over to see themselves reeling at 114for 6. However, it was a late cameo of Veda Krishnamurthy where she smashed 4boundaries in her 11-ball stay to take India to a total of 142 for 6 in 20overs.
It was Bangladesh's fielding that hurt them the most as theygave away at least 20 runs through misfielding. Chasing 143, Bangladeshsuffered an early jolt when Shikha Pandey struck in her first over to removeopener Shamima Sultana.
But Murshida Khatun soon attacked Deepti Sharma to collectthree boundaries in her 2nd over and make up for an early once. However, onceBangladesh lost Murshida for 30, the asking rate started to soar up andBangladesh kept losing wickets under pressure.
