Bangladesh women’s cricket team suffered a crushing 72-run defeat to pre-tournament favourites India in the opening match of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in Bangalore on Tuesday.
The visitors hardly batted with any purpose as they were restricted to 91-5 after India had made 163-5 and showed the yawning gap between the two sides.India, boosted by quality big hitters in their side took the game beyond the reach of Bangladesh and their efforts were backed up by the bowlers, who maintained a tidy line and length.
At the near empty Chinnaswamy stadium, Jahanara Khatun’s team surrendered meekly to absorb the defeat as they were unable to produce any noteworthy partnership.
Wicket keeper Nigar Sultana scored an unbeaten 27 runs and apart from her only opener Sharmin Akter came up with some resistance putting up 21 runs.
Sharmin, who struck three boundaries and looked solid, was run out from a direct throw of substitute fielder Deepti Sharma that slumped Bangladesh’s run rate.
Anuja Patil and Poonam Yadav grabbed two wickets each for the hosts.
India made a rollicking start as skipper Mithali Raj and Vellaswamy Vanitha put up 62 runs in their opening stand.
The duo exhibited some terrific shots as they raced to 51 runs inside the power play before Bangladesh checked things for a while after breaking the partnership through young left-arm prodigy Nahida Akter.
Nahida, who just turned 16 this month, looked hardly awed by the presence of Indian stalwarts as the spinner demonstrated good line and length and picked up Vanitha, who made 38 off just 24 balls, to give her side some joy.
The joy was doubled soon as Fahima Khatun trapped Smiriti Mandhana leg-before in the next over.
Bangladesh started to put pressure on the hosts by restricting their flow of runs before the pressure was once again reverted on them by some solid Indian batting at the back end of the innings.
Khadizatul Kubra can call herself unlucky to miss a simple caught and bowl chance offered by highest scorer Mithali Raj, who eventually was out for 42 runs.
But the real onslaught came through the bat of Harmanpreet Kaur and Veda Krishanamurthy as they added 41 runs in the fourth wicket partnership off just 24 balls.
Harmanpreet made 40 with the help of three fours and two sixes and later Veda launched big at the death with her unbeaten 36 runs compromising two huge sixes to lead India to their highest total in Twenty20 internationals.
Fahima Khatun picked up 2-31 while Rumana Ahmed grabbed 2-35 for Bangladesh.
Brief Scores
India Women 163-5 in 20 overs (Raj 42, Kaur 40, Vanitha 38, Krishnamurthy 36; Fahima 2-31, Rumana 2-35) v Bangladesh Women 91-5 in 20 overs (Nigar 27 not out, Sharmin 21; Patil 2-16, Poonam 2-17).
Result: India Women won by 72 runs.
Player of the match: Harmanpreet Kaur (India Women)
-With New Age input
