Rumana Ahmed fought hard but could only delay the inevitable as the Bangladesh women’s cricket team suffered a 46-run defeat against their Indian counterparts in the second one-day international in Ahmedabad on Wednesday to concede an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
In reply to India’s score of 256-6, Bangladesh were well alive in the contest until the 35th over when Rumana stroked 75 runs 94 balls, but after she departed wickets kept falling at regular intervals to hurt Bangladesh’s cause as they eventually finished on 210-9 in their stipulated 50 overs.
Rumana’s innings was co-incidentally the joint-highest score by a Bangladeshi woman in an ODI, alongside skipper Salma Khatun’s unbeaten 75 in the first match of this series.
Salma’s 35 off 39 deliveries in the latter part of the innings failed to resurrect Bangladesh’s chase as Harmanpreet Kaur came back to haunt the opposition with her all-round performance taking 2-30, while Ekta Bisht (3-34) was the tormentor-in-chief.
Earlier, Kaur’s second one-day international hundred piloted India to a respectable total of 256-6 in their allotted 50 overs as she blasted 103 from exactly 100 balls.
The 24-year-old Kaur, hailing from Punjab, struck 11 fours and two sixes and she was ably supported by opener Poonam Raut (80 from 104 balls). Together with Raut, Kaur scripted a 109-run partnership for the third wicket which helped the Indian team amass a challenging total.
Jahanara Alam (2-38) and Salma (2-48) were the most successful bowlers for Bangladesh.
The third and final ODI takes place at the same venue on Friday.
-With New Age input
