Harmanpreet Kaur-led India completed the cleansweep in the five-T20I series against Bangladesh with a comfortable 21-run win at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Bangladesh batters registered their highest score in the series but it was not enough to chase down 157. Once again, Indian spinners Radha Yadav and Asha Sobhana were among wickets to prevent Bangladesh from getting near the target.
Camoes help India post fighting total
Harmanpreet won the toss and opted to bat first. Shafali Verma hit a couple of fours before falling to Sultana Khatun in the fifth over. Smriti Mandhana accelerated in the same over and hit the first six of the innings. In the next over 14 runs were scored as India had 51/1 after powerplay overs. Nahida Akter got the breakthrough. Mandhana played across the line and got out lbw for a 25-ball 33. Dayalan Hemalatha got a reprieve as Fariha Trisna dropped her catch for a single-digit score. At halfway stage, India were 71/2.
Hemalatha targetted Rabeya Khan and hit her for a six. In the next over, Harmanpreet hit Ritu Moni for three fours as India got past the 100-run mark. In the 15th over, Harmanpreet got out lbw to Nahida. The skipper scored 30 runs from 24 balls. Rabeya in her final over struck twice. First Hemalatha got out trying to play a big shot. She scored 37 runs from 28 balls. In the same over, S Sajana got out lbw. While Deepti Sharma struggled, Richa Ghosh's 17-ball 28 cameo helped India post 156/5.
Another collapse
Sobhana Mostary showed signs of aggressiveness with three fours off Pooja Vastrakar. Young Titas Sadhu got the better of her as Radha took a stunner at point. Then Radha dismissed Dilara Akter for a single-digit score. Bangladesh were 36/2 after powerplay overs. After a couple of quiet overs, Radha returned and struck twice. Nigar Sultana got bowled whereas Rubya Haider got out lbw for 21-ball 20. Asha joined the party too as she dismissed Shorna Akter for a single-digit score. Bangladesh were 52/5 at the halfway
stage.
Much-needed intent in later half
Ritu infused life into the run chase and hit boundaries. Shorifa Khatun accelerated as well to get Bangladesh's score past 100 in the 16th over. Asha returned to get the breakthrough. Ritu got bowled for 33-ball 37. The required run rate slipped out of the grasp as Bangladesh managed to post 135/6. Shorifa scored 28 runs from 21 balls. Rabeya remained not out for an unbeaten 11-ball 14. They fell short of the target by 22 runs.
“I think the calmness all the players showed was pleasing. While bowling and batting. We have some areas to improve. WPL gave a few players some confidence. Has helped them improve their game. Definitely this series will give us a lot of confidence. We are working really hard. We will look to play our best cricket,” Harmanpreet said in the post-match presentation.
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