India Women vs Bangladesh Women, Asia Cup Highlights: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana Star As India Thrash Bangladesh

Right then, that is it from this game. India Women have consolidated their place at the top of the points table but still have a game remaining. They will now face Thailand Women who have proved to be the dark horses so far in the competition. That game will be played on Monday, the 10th of October and will begin at 1 pm IST (7.30 am GMT). Our coverage though will begin sooner. Cheers!

Deepti Sharma (55 off 44 balls & 2 for 10) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for her exploits with both bat and ball. She says that she is always prepared to play any role for the team as well as bowl. Mentions that she wanted to bowl in the right places and adds that it was difficult to bat on the wicket. Claims that a lot of hard work has gone into her batting and thanks her family and everyone else who has supported her. Ends by saying that they played really well and she is happy with their performance.

India Women skipper, Smriti Mandhana says that it was disappointing the way they played in the last game but is happy with the way they bounced back. This shows the signs of a good side and is proud of the girls. Mentions that it was a team performance and gives credit to Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues and even Deepti Sharma but reckons they could have got 10 or so more runs as well. Says that the bowlers did well and the plan was to keep bowling on good lines and lengths and make the batters make mistakes and everyone bowled really well.

Nigar Sultana, captain of Bangladesh Women admits that they didn’t bowl well in the Powerplay and credits the Indian batters for executing their plans well. Adds that they were unable to do well in the Powerplay with the bat either. Mentions that they did restrict the opposition towards the end but the first half cost them the game as the main bowlers didn’t do well. Claims that she wanted Rumana Ahmed to control the end overs therefore she was held back.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Smriti Mandhana, the stand-in captain for India Women won the toss and opted to put runs on the board. This proved to be a brilliant decision as the pitch had dried out and gotten good for batting. The opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma put on a 96-run stand with the latter scoring a half-century. The two leg-spinners for Bangladesh Women, Fahima Khatun and Rumana Ahmed bowled well in the middle and Rumana even picked up three wickets. It was then Jemimah Rodrigues who showed her skills and took the Indian total over the 150-run mark. With a daunting target to chase down, the Bangladesh Women innings could never gain much momentum as even without losing wickets, the boundaries were hard to come by. A couple of batters in the top order did well but the Indian spin attack was too good and came up with the goods when it mattered most.

Bangladesh Women came into the contest with a bit of confidence as they were the team that defeated India Women twice in the previous Asia Cup but they could not repeat the feat as they were completely outplayed. Chasing 160 to win, they needed a fast start which they didn't get. They had wickets in hand but the required rate just kept on rising, which resulted in the batters playing false shots. A few wickets fell in the middle overs as both openers got out after getting a start. The skipper, Nigar Sultana tried her best but in the end, it was a bridge too far.

India Women had the runs on the board and given what happened in the last Asia Cup, it was basically a grudge match for them against the hosts. They bowled well inside the Powerplay but failed to pick up a wicket. In the middle overs though, their spinners showed good control and finally, the wickets fell which allowed India Women to maintain a stranglehold on the match. In the end, the bowlers were economical it was more than enough to get the win. Towards the end though, Shafali Verma picked up a couple of wickets to compliment her half-century and Deepti Sharma was sensational as well.

A comprehensive win then for India Women and they have managed to shrug off the defeat in their last game to affirm the position at the top of the points table which all but assures them of a semi-final berth as well. As for Bangladesh Women, they will have to win their remaining two games to make sure that they qualify for the semi-finals.

Low full toss on middle and leg, Salma Khatun clips this to deep mid-wicket for one. Bangladesh Women reach the 100-run mark but are well short of the target and have suffered a comprehensive defeat!

This is full as well and in line with the stumps, Salma Khatun clips this to wide long on for a brace.

Bowls this quicker and into the pads, Salma Khatun does not connect her flick and gets hit on the pads.

This is spinning in sharply from outside off, Salma Khatun gets beaten on the inside edge and the ball hits the pads.

A couple of runs. This is full and in line with the stumps, Salma Khatun heaves this towards deep square leg and they take a brace.

Salma Khatun walks in at number 9.

OUT! BOWLED! Another one bites the dust! Deepti Sharma comes in to bowl the final over and starts off with a good-length ball. This is served outside off and the ball turns in sharply and a long way as well. Lata Mondal looks to defend it off the front foot but the ball goes through the gap between bat and pad and goes on to hit the top of middle stump.

This is bowled full and outside off, Nahida Akter misses her cut shot as she gets beaten.

Nahida Akter walks in to bat now.

OUT! STUMPED! Shafali Verma has her career-best figures here! Some sharp work behind the wicket and another Bangladesh Women's batter departs timidly. Shafali Verma floats this full and outside off, Fahima Khatun looks to sweep but misses and Richa Ghosh whips the bails off in a flash. She is convinced that she has the stumping and the umpire refers this to the video umpire. Replays show that Fahima Khatun has dragged her back foot out of the crease and she is a goner! Shafali Verma looks thrilled and she caps what has been an outstanding all-round performance in this game.

Is that stumped as well? Richa Ghosh is excited once again and reckons she has done the job. The decision is sent upstairs and we can see that Fahima Khatun has her back leg planted on the line and her bat is not put down in time either. The bails are whipped off in a flash and the decision is OUT.