Twitter Reactions: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma help India trounce Bangladesh

India plummeted Bangladesh by 59 runs in the 15th match of the ongoing Women's Asia Cup on Saturday, 8th of October, to climb to the top of the points table. The Women in Blue bounced back from their surprise defeat against Pakistan to claim a routine victory against the defending champions on the back of Shafali Verma's record-setting innings. 

Bangladesh, in pursuit of a challenging target, made a sedate start to their innings. While the opening batters ensured no casualties in the early overs, they lacked intensity and handed India the initiative. Murshida Khatun was the first to depart in the tenth over after a lethargic 21 off 25 deliveries.

Her opening partner Fargana Hoque did not cover herself in glory either with a timid 30 off 40 deliveries as India were all over the defending champions in the contest. By the time Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana started playing some attacking shots, the result was a foregone conclusion as the Indians were relentless in their defense.

Shafali Verma had a memorable day in the field as the part-timer scalped two wickets and returned with 2/10 in her four overs to go along with her half-century. Deepti Sharma, as usual, annihilated the Bangladeshi batters with her guile and trickery.

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma got India off to a blistering start before Jemimah added the finishing gloss

India's Smriti Mandhana, who took charge of the team in the absence of the rested Harmanpreet Kaur, decided to bat first. The opening pair of Mandhana and Shafali Verma started the innings like a house on fire, adamant about extinguishing the ghosts of the previous encounter. 

The duo made a blistering start but slowed down after the heat and humidity took a toll on the batters. They added 96 runs for the opening wicket before Smriti Mandhana was sold down the river by her young partner on 47. Verma followed suit after a couple of overs but not before registering an impressive half-century. She became the youngest to 1000 T20I runs during her 55-run innings.

India's innings stuttered after the departure of the well-set openers with a couple of quick wickets in the middle overs. Bangladeshi bowlers threatened to wrestle back the momentum before the in-form Jemimah Rodrigues compiled a quickfire unbeaten 35 off 24 deliveries to take India to a competitive total of 159 runs on a tricky surface.

Rumana Ahmed was the pick of the Bangladeshi bowlers and almost claimed a sensational hat trick only to drop a regulation return catch off her own bowling. She ended with impressive figures of 3/27.

Here is how Twitter reacted to India's clinical victory after the heartbreaking loss to Pakistan: