Spinner Poonam Yadav claimed three wickets as India defeated Bangladesh by 18 runs in a Group A match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in Perth on Monday. Invited to bat, India posted a competitive 142/6 and then returned to restrict Bangladesh to 124/8 to notch up their second successive win in the showpiece event. Chasing 143 to win, Murshida Khatun compiled a 26-ball 30 after her opening partner Shamima Sultana was sent packing in the second over by Shikha Pandey. Once Khatun was removed by Arundhati Reddy, Nigar Sultana (35) tried to keep them in the hunt but Bangladesh struggled against the quality spin bowling of Poonam Yadav, who claimed three wickets to derail Bangladesh's chase. Arundhati Reddy (2/33) and Pandey (2/14) took two wickets each, while Rajeshwari Gayakwad (1/25) accounted for one wicket. Earlier 16-year-old opener Shafali Verma gave India a rollicking start, smashing a 17-ball 39 which contained two fours and four sixes. Jemimah Rodrigues also scored a crucial 37-ball 34 but rest of the batsmen failed to fire as India's runrate took a hit. Down the order, Veda Krishnamurthy then blasted 20 off 11 balls studded with four boundaries to lift them to a fighting total. For Bangladesh, skipper Salma Khatun (2/25) and Panna Ghosh (2/25) claimed two wickets each.
Highlights Of ICC Women's T20 World Cup India vs Bangladesh Match, straight from W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth
- 19:58 (IST)See you next time!With this win, India have strengthened their chances of qualifying to the semi-finals. Thank you for joining us, hope you enjoyed our coverage as much as we did bringing it to you. We'll be back when India play their next game. Till then... take care!
- 19:50 (IST)Shafali Verma -- player of the match!Young Shafali Verma is the player of the match for her blistering innings, laced with four maximums.
- 19:44 (IST)India win by 18 runs!Just one run came off the last ball as Bangladesh manage 124/8 in their 20 overs, handing India a 18-run win.
- 19:40 (IST)Shikha Pandey strikes!Shikha Pandey has the ball in hand and she has plenty of runs to defend. She fires in a perfect yorker to see the back of Rumana Ahmed
- 19:37 (IST)Back to back fours... BAN need 25 off 10 balls!
- 19:33 (IST)Another wicket falls! Jahanara Alam departs!
- 19:29 (IST)Huge wicket for India!
- 19:26 (IST)Bangladesh need 40 to win in 4 overs!This match is nicely poised, with both teams in the hunt. Bangladesh need 40 to win in last four overs while India need wickets.
- 19:24 (IST)Ponam Yadav strikes!
- 19:22 (IST)Solid partnership for Bangladesh!This partnership between Nigar Sultana and Fahima Khatun has given Bangladesh hope of pulling this off.
- 19:17 (IST)Four!Fahima Khatun scores back to back boundaries to keep Bangladesh in the hunt. The first one was a result of a thick top edge and the second one was gift from the fielder Shafali Verma who stopped it successfully but then waved her hands to signal a four.
- 19:09 (IST)Another caught behind!
- 19:05 (IST)Wicket!
- 19:00 (IST)Two boundaries in the over!Arundhati Reddy offers width outside off and Nigar Sultana cuts the ball behind backward point for a boundary. The second boundary in the over came via a thick outside edge as the ball raced away to the third man fence.
- 18:54 (IST)Huge breakthrough!
- 18:51 (IST)
- 18:43 (IST)END OF POWERPLAY!Shikha Pandey bowls another tidy over. She gave away only four runs in the last of the powerplay. Bangladesh are 33/1.
- 18:32 (IST)Three boundaries in the over!
- 18:27 (IST)WICKET!
- 18:21 (IST)The chase begins!
- 18:05 (IST)Five runs from last over as India post 142/6!Five runs came of the final over of the innings as India post 142/6 in 20 overs.
- 18:02 (IST)Bangladesh lose review!
- 17:59 (IST)
- 17:55 (IST)Back to back boundaries for Veda!
- 17:52 (IST)
- 17:50 (IST)Wickets tumbling for India!
- 17:45 (IST)Wicket! Richa Ghosh departs for 14!
- 17:42 (IST)Tidy over from Nahida Akter!Nahida Akter bowls a brilliant overs, conceding only four runs in the 16th over of the innings.
- 17:40 (IST)Back to back boundaries for Richa Ghosh!
- 17:31 (IST)Run out! Jemimah Rodrigues departs for 34
- 17:28 (IST)Bangladesh pull things back!Bangladesh bowlers have dried up boundaries in last three overs to get themselves back in the game.
- 17:24 (IST)India look to rebuild!Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma -- architects of Indian innings in the last game -- are out in the middle and have the same job at hand. The duo needs to bat deep to help India post a competitive total.
- 17:18 (IST)Huge wicket! Ghosh removes Harmanpreet Kaur cheaply!
- 17:14 (IST)Misfield costs four!
- 17:07 (IST)
- 17:03 (IST)Four!Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur guides the ball towards third man to get off the mark. IND 59/2 in 6.2 overs.
- 17:00 (IST)Huge wicket as Shafali departs for 39!Panna Ghosh hands India a huge blow as she removes dangerous Shafali Verma for 39 runs. IND 53/2 in 5.3 overs
- 17:00 (IST)50 up for India!SHafali Verma brings up 50 runs on board in style with an elegant hit over long-off. IND 53/1 in 5.1 overs
- 16:55 (IST)Six!Jemimah Rodrigues dances down the wicket and clears the long-off fence with ease for her first maximum. IND 47/1 in 4.5 overs.
- 16:49 (IST)