League: Cricket
In a stunning display of dominance, India Women triumphed over Bangladesh Women by 10 wickets in the first Semi-Final of the Women’s Asia Cup T20 2024 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Bangladesh Women struggled against a disciplined Indian bowling attack, managing to score only 80 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Bangladesh’s innings never gained momentum, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Nigar Sultana was the standout performer with a gritty 32 runs off 51 balls, including two boundaries.
Shorna Akter provided some resistance with 19 runs off 18 balls, but the rest of the batting lineup failed to make significant contributions. Renuka Thakur Singh was the star with the ball for India, taking 3 wickets for just 10 runs in her 4 overs. Radha Yadav also shone, claiming 3 wickets for 14 runs. Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar chipped in with a wicket each.
Chasing a modest target of 81 runs, the Indian openers, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, made light work of the Bangladeshi bowlers. The duo remained unbeaten, steering India to victory in just 11 overs. Mandhana was particularly aggressive, scoring 55 runs off 39 balls, featuring nine boundaries and a six. Shafali supported her well with 26 runs off 28 balls. The Bangladeshi bowlers were unable to create any breakthroughs, with all five bowlers used proving ineffective against the Indian batters.
India’s comprehensive victory was sealed with Smriti hitting the winning runs, marking a dominant performance in all facets of the game. Renuka was rightfully named the Player of the Match for her exceptional bowling spell that set the tone for India’s victory.
With this win, India Women advance to the final of the Women’s Asia Cup T20 2024, showcasing their superiority and intent to clinch the coveted title. Bangladesh Women, despite their efforts, were outclassed and will need to reflect on their performance as they exit the tournament. The final promises to be an exciting contest as India Women continue their quest for glory.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.