Women's Asia Cup
India crush Bangladesh to reach Asia Cup final
|| CF DESK ||
The Bangladesh national women's cricket team delivered a disappointing performance with both bat and ball, suffering a 10-wicket defeat to India in the first semifinal of the Women's T20 Asia Cup at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Friday.
After choosing to bat first, Bangladesh's top three batters were dismissed during the powerplay, with India pacer Renuka Singh's impressive spell of 3-10 reducing them to 21-3 within five overs.
Captain Nigar Sultana Joty tried to stabilize the innings, scoring 32 off 51 balls, but wickets continued to fall around her, and the pressure mounted due to numerous dot balls.
Shorna Akter, batting at number eight, contributed an unbeaten 19 off 18 balls, but Bangladesh could only manage 80-8 in their 20 overs.
For India, left-arm spinner Radha Yadav also took three wickets.
In response, India openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma easily chased down the target. Mandhana scored 55 and Verma made 26, leading India to 83-0 in just 11 overs, securing a place in the final for the ninth time in nine editions.
Mandhana hit three consecutive boundaries off Nahida Akter to complete her 25th WT20I fifty and clinch a comprehensive victory. India had recently whitewashed Bangladesh in a five-match T20 series in Sylhet.
India will now face the winner of the second semifinal between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, which is scheduled to take place at the same venue later in the day.