As the Indian women's side cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the opening T20 International on Sunday, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur kicked off the new international campaign with a thunderous half-century.
Indian spinners bowled first in favourable conditions. Utilising advantageous conditions, they restricted Bangladesh to 114 for 5. Harmanpreet (54 not out in 35 balls) and her stand-in, Smriti Mandhana (38 off 34 balls), had a 70-run third-wicket partnership to knock down the target in 16.2 overs. The captain hit six boundaries and two sixes after two reprieves from Nahida Akter's left-arm spin.
Mandhana set the tempo for India, scoring five delicious boundaries, including a rasping square cutoff from Marufa Akter and an inside-out lofted cover drive. They had top-drawer shooting abilities.Following a brilliant setup by the Indian bowlers, the hitters barely had to exert themselves while pursuing a straightforward goal.
Anusha Bareddy, a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, and Minnu Manni, an off-break bowler, made their spin attack debuts and executed skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's one-sided bowling approach. Deepti Sharma, who led the spin assault with 0/14 in 4 overs, was also in the team.
Shafali Verma, a leg-spinner, was likewise primarily on target in her three overs, with the exception of a six that top scorer Sorna Akhtar (28 from 28 balls) smashed off her bowling. In order to bowl on the fourth or fifth off-stump line and pack the off-side field with five fielders, it was tough for the Bangladeshi batters—most of whom were right-handers—to break through the cordon.
After rookie Mani took her first wicket, Jemimah Rodrigues caught Shamima Sultana's slog sweep at square leg. After Pooja Vastrakar's short ball debilitated Shathi Rani (22), she castrated her with a perfect fuller delivery. Shobhana Mostary (23 off 33 balls), furious after Nigar Sultana (2) was run out, was bowled by Shafali.
More than half of Bangladesh's innings consisted of dot balls, but despite this, they only managed to score eight fours and three sixes. With two of those hits coming from Sorna, the hosts' 100-run mark was achieved.Shafali paid the price for her poor footwork as India began the chase since she remained anchored to the crease and declared to be in front.
When Rodrigues attempted to cut off a break from Sultana Khatun, she was played. There was little worry for the victorious team, though, after Harmanpreet and Mandhana teamed up.
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