Indian team led by Mithali Raj registered a 110-run victory against Bangladesh on March 22 (Tuesday) to keep their semi-final hopes alive in the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup. Indian batter Yastika Bhatia scored a terrific fifty (50 runs off 80 balls) to help her side in reaching a total of 229 for 7 wickets in 50 overs. In reply, Bangladesh could score a paltry total of 119 runs in 40.3 overs.
Solid start
Batting first, Indian team started their batting on a positive note as their opening batters- Smriti Mandhana (30 runs off 51 balls) and Shafali Varma (42 runs off 42 balls) - notched a crucial partnership of 74 runs. Bangladesh left-arm bowler Nahida Akter dismissed Mandhana in the 15th over of the match to earn a vital breakthrough for her side.
Later, Indian skipper Mithali Raj scripted an unwanted record after she failed to score a single run against Bangladesh in the ICC Women’s World Cup. The Indian women’s team skipper registered a golden duck against Bangladesh. Previously, she had scored another golden duck in the Women’s World Cup after she was dismissed on the first ball of her innings against South Africa, in the 2017 Women’s World Cup. With her two golden ducks in the Women’s World Cup she became the first captain to suffer two such dismissals in Women’s World Cup tournament. On the other hand, she is also the only Indian skipper to script a golden duck in Women’s World Cup.
Yastika's fifty
India’s Yastika Bhatia, on the other hand, played a brilliant innings of 50 runs off 80 deliveries to help Indian team in reaching a defendable total. Bhatia’s innings was comprised of 2 boundaries.
Eventually, Pooja Vastrakar (30 runs not out off 33 balls) and Sneh Rana (27 runs off 23 balls) showed some good batting skills to help their side in reaching a total of 229 for 7 in 50 overs.
In reply, Bangladesh started their run chase on a poor note as they lost their first five wickets scoring just 35 runs. Ultimately, Bangladesh were bundled out within a mere total of 119 runs.
Indian spinner Sneh Rana picked up four wickets to earn a victory for the Indian team. On the other hand, medium pacer Pooja Vastrakar and veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami bagged two wickets.
With this win, Indian team claimed third spot in the World Cup standings with six points after playing six matches. Bangladesh, on the other hand, are currently at seventh spot in the World Cup standings with two points after playing five matches.
