Ind v Ban Women’s World T20 Review: Hosts begin their campaign with a thumping win

The Indian women’s cricket team dished out a clinical performance to thrash Bangladesh by 72 runs in the Women’s World T20 opening encounter at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.  Asked to bat first by Bangladeshi captain Jahanara Alam, the Indian eves posted a formidable 163/5- India’s highest total in the format- which was always going to be a daunting task for the inexperienced visiting side.

Captain Mithali Raj and Vellaswamy Vanitha gave their team a flying start by playing aggressively from the first over. Their 62-run opening wicket partnership was ended in the 8th over after Vanitha lost her off stump to Nahida Akter. Her knock of 38 off 24 balls included 7 fours. Smriti Mandhana (0) was found plumb in front in the next over and couldn’t continue her recent impressive form. The wicket of Raj (42) reduced India to 95/3 in the 14th over however Harmanpreet Kaur was going strong at the other end and a 150-plus target always looked a possibility.

Kaur hammered 3 fours and 2 sixes in her knock of 40 off 29 balls while Veda Krishnamurthy was equally impressive in her unbeaten 36 off 24 balls including 2 maximums. Fahima Khatun was the most impressive bowler for Bangladesh with a spell of 2/31. Rumana Ahmed contributed with 2/35 from her 4 overs.

The visitors began their innings on a cautious note however ultimately ran out of patience. Opener Ayasha Rahman (4) top edged a quicker ball from Anuja Patil and Sanjida Islam (2) slogged one off Poonam Yadav to mid-wicket that reduced Bangladesh to 24/2 in the 7th over. The other opener Sharmin Akhter hit 3 fours and looked good in her knock of 21 off 27 however was run out in the 10th over with the score on 35.

Patil bowled an impressive spell of 2/16 while Yadav was equally brilliant in her spell of 2/17. The experienced Jhulan Goswami bowled 4 economical overs for 17 runs without a wicket. Bangladeshi keeper made an unbeaten 27 off 25 including a 4 as her team finished on a disappointing 91/5 in 20 overs.

Brief Scores:

India Women: 163/5 in 20 overs (M Raj 42; F Khatun 2/31)

Bangladesh Women: 91/5 in 20 overs (N Sultana 27; A Patil 2/16)

Player of the Match: Harmanpreet Kaur (India Women)