Harmanpreet Kaur-led India got back to winning ways against Bangladesh in the ongoing three-ODI series. After a loss in the rain-affected first ODI, India beat Bangladesh by a massive margin of 108 runs in the second ODI. Jemimah Rodrigues starred for India at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka. First, Rodrigues scored' 78-ball 86 helped India post 228/8. Then she registered her career best bowling figures of 4/3 to bundle out hosts for 120.
Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana had won the toss and opted to field first. Smriti Mandhana got an early reprieve when she was dropped for naught in the second over. In her comeback series, Priya Punia failed again and got bowled by Marufa Akter in the fifth over. Just when Yastika Bhatia and Mandhana were looking comfortable at the crease, the former got out as the opener drove down the ground and the bowler got fingertips to the ball.
For 10 overs, not a single boundary was scored as Harmanpreet took her time to settle. Rabeya Khan broke the partnership as Mandhana danced down the track and got bowled. She scored 36 runs from 58 balls including four fours. Rodrigues played herself in and started accelerating. In the 37th over, Harmanpreet got retired hurt. In the 41st over, Rodrigues got to her half-century from 57 deliveries. Harleen Deol did not score a single boundary. She scored 25 runs from 36 deliveries before losing her wicket to Nahida Akter.
After Deol's wicket, Harmanpreet came in to bat and completed her half-century from 83 balls. Rodrigues hit a couple of boundaries off Nahida in the 49th over but missed a chance to complete her century. She got stumped off the final ball of the penultimate over. She scored 86 runs from 78 balls including nine fours. In the final over, Kaur slogswept but got caught at deep mid-wicket. She scored 52 runs from 88 balls including three fours. Deepti Sharma went for the big shot as well against Sultana Khatun but got out for a golden duck. On the final ball, Sneh Rana got out trying to take the third run. India posted 228/8 on the board.
In reply, Bangladesh lost their first wicket in the fourth over in the formt of Sharmin Akhter. Deepti bowled a wicket-maiden. In the next over, opener Murshida Khatun got out as well. Meghna Singh bowled a wicket-maiden. Deepti and Meghna combined to bowl four maiden overs on the trot. The struggle continued and then Lata Mondal got bowled by Rana. Fargana Hoque hit a few boundaries. She got the perfect partner in Ritu Moni. In the 29th over, Hoque got stumped out off Devika Vaidya's bowling in the 29th over. She scored 47 runs from 81 balls including five fours.
Rodrigues was introduced into the attack in the 30th over. Moni got stumped out after scoring 27 runs from 46 balls including three fours. Vaidya struck again as Rabeya got stumped for a single-digit score. In the 34th over, Rodrigues got rid of Nahida and Sultana. Vadiya got her third wicket as Sultana Khatun got out for a three-ball duck. In her fourth over, Rodrigues got the wicket of Marufa to end Bangladesh's innings for 120.
“I would be lying to say that I was not under pressure, we saw how good Bangladesh were in the first game. But as a team we spoke about how we can respond after a loss. Harman and I were going really well then Harleen came in and gave us that push. I didn't try to do anything extra, just tried to pitch it in the right areas and allow the surface to do the rest, credit to the management for believing in my bowling,” the 22-year-old said in the post-match presentation.
The decider of the three-ODI series will be played at the same venue on July 22.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Sunrisers Hyderabad likely to sack Brian Lara, new head coach set to be appointed for IPL 2024
Watch: Andre Russell muscles jaw-dropping 108-meter six, ball lands in parking lot, fans in Dallas left spellbound
