Harmanpreet Kaur guides India to series win against Bangladesh

Harmanpreet Kaur came to the fore for the second time in two matches, hitting a century and taking two wickets to help India Women beat Bangladesh Women by 46 runs in the second One-Day International at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad on Wednesday (April 10). With this win, India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, after Kaur had hit 63 not out to guide India to a five-wicket win in the first ODI.

India won the toss and batted first, putting up a formidable 256 for 6 in 50 overs, and then restricted Bangladesh to 210 for 9.

Kaur and Poonam Raut, the opener, came together for a crucial 109-run partnership in 21.1 overs after India had lost two wickets with 75 on the board. Once Raut was bowled by Jahanara Alam, Kaur shared a 52-run stand with Anagha Deshpande, the wicketkeeper, during the course of which she reached her second ODI century. Her first hundred had come against England Women in the Women's World Cup earlier this year, when she hit 107 not out. Kaur fell to Salma Khatun, the Bangladesh captain, for 103 runs (100 balls), but by then the damage was already done for Bangladesh.

Alam, who had taken 2 for 31 in the first match, continued her good form, returning 2 for 38 in ten overs, while Khatun contributed her share with 2 for 48.

Bangladesh began well, but they lacked a strong finish, with a rush of wickets towards the end preventing them from getting close to the Indian total. Like India, Bangladesh also had a strong partnership for the third wicket between Rumana Ahmed and Lata Mondal, who came together at 66 for 2, with Ahmed hitting a half-century. However, Ekta Bisht broke the stand, bowling Ahmed for 75.

Mondal was run-out by Swagatika Rath in the 37th over, after which the innings came undone and the required run rate increased rapidly. Khatun, who had hit 75 in the first ODI to be Bangladesh's top scorer, was unable to repeat her performance and was caught by Shubhalaxmi Sharma for 35.

Bangladesh, who were 193 for 5 at one stage, ended up with only 210 for 9. Bisht led the bowling attack for India taking 3 for 34 in ten overs, with Kaur's 2 for 30 assisting ably.

The third and final ODI will be played at the same venue on Friday.

Brief Scores:
India Women 256/6 in 50 overs (P Raut 80, H Kaur 103; J Alam 2-38, S Khatun 2-48) beat Bangladesh Women 210/9 in 50 overs (R Ahmed 75, S Khatun 35; E Bisht 3-34, H Kaur 2-30) by 46 runs.