11 July,2023 04:51 PM IST | Mirpur | mid-day online correspondent
Team India (@BCCIWomen/Twitter)
Young Indian opener Shafali Verma would look to make an impact with the willow after a poor start in the series opener as Indian women aim to clinch the three-match T20 International series against Bangladesh with another dominant performance in the second game on Tuesday. India coasted to an easy seven-wicket victory in the opening match on Sunday with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur blazing her way to an unbeaten 35-ball 54 and Smriti Mandhana looking equally dangerous during her short but significant knock of 38.
Bangladesh are such opponents which will give Shafali a good chance to regain some form and notch up a big score at the top of the order. Harmanpreet's unit has shown the gulf in cricketing standards between the two teams and it will be a huge upset if Bangladesh win on Tuesday and restore parity in the series.
Also Read: Five talking points ahead of India vs Bangladesh 2nd T20I
The difference in quality between the two teams was there to be seen when Bangladesh batted, as the only batter to at least score at run-a-ball strike-rate was Shorna Akter, who struck two sixes in her 28-ball-28 that took the home team past 100-run mark. What has worked to India's advantage is the fact that all of Bangladesh's top seven batters are right-handers and that has allowed the Indian skipper to stick to one particular line on a Sher-e-Bangla track where the ball at times stops before coming onto the bat.
Wicket-keeper: Nigar Sultana, Yashtika Bhatia
Batters: Smriti Mandhana (vc), Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Sobhana Mostary
All-rounders: Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma (c), Salma Khatun, Pooja Vastrakar
Bowlers: Nahida Akter
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Shefali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Harleen Deol, Devika Vaidya, Uma Chhetri (wk), Amanjot Kaur, S Meghna, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Anjali Sarwani , Monika Patel, Rashi Kanojia, Anusha Bareddi, Minnu Mani.
Bangladesh: Nigar Sultana (c/w), Shamima Sultana, Murshida Khatun, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Nahida Akter, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Shanjida Akter, Salma Khatun, Marufa Akter, Dilara Akter, Disha Biswas, Sultana Khatun, Shathi Rani
Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to bat first against Bangladesh.
India: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Yastika Bhatia(w), Harleen Deol, Pooja Vastrakar, Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Bareddy Anusha, Minnu Mani
Bangladesh: Shathi Rani, Shamima Sultana, Sobhana Mostary, Nigar Sultana(w/c), Shorna Akter, Ritu Moni, Nahida Akter, Fahima Khatun, Marufa Akter, Sultana Khatun, Rabeya Khan
India win the match!
A spell-bounding bowling attack by Indian spinners overpowers the average batting performance as India clinch the series by winning the second T20I match against Bangladesh by 8 runs.
4:35 PM: BAN 87/10 in 20 overs
Shafali Verma weaves her magic in a brilliant last over as she takes three wickets to limit Bangladesh to 87. Rabeya Khan run out by Amanjot Kaur, Nahida Akter caught by Shafali Verma and Marufa Akter stumped by Yastika Bhatia. What a finish! Shafali also completes a three-wicket haul.
4:29 PM: BAN 86/6 in 18.5 overs
It just got interesting! Deepti Sharma gets India the wicket they needed as Yastika stumps captain Nigar Sultana. Bangladesh lose a top batter at the most crucial stage. 3 wickets for Deepti in this match.
4:24 PM: BAN 82/5 in 18 overs
The game can go in any direction. Bangladesh need 14 runs to win in 12 balls.
4:15 PM: BAN 69/5 in 16 overs
Jemimah bowls another tight over. Nigar Sultana hits the ball towards offside. Jemimah collects and hits the stumps on the non-striking end but the captain is safely in. Close run-out call! 3 runs in this over.
4:08 PM: BAN 64/5 in 14.2 overs
And Deepti Sharma does it! She takes a catch off her own bowling to dismiss Shorna Akter.
4:05 PM: BAN 62/4 in 13.5 overs
Jemimah Rodrigues to Nigar Sultana. 5 wides! Every mistake can cost India at this point. The visitors need a wicket to break the crucial partnership.
4:03 PM: BAN 57/4 in 13 overs
A good over for Bangladesh as Shafali Verma concedes 10 runs. Captain Nigar Sultana and Shorna Akter seem to be in rhythm, turning things in Bangladesh's favour one run at a time.
3:59 PM: BAN 47/4 in 12 overs
Jemimah Rodrigues out to bowl. India's decision to send spinners might just lead them to a win. Only 2 runs in this over. Bangladesh need 49 runs to win.
3:47 PM: BAN 37/4 in 9 overs
Bangladesh need an improved run rate to win the match. Indian bowlers keeping things tight for the opposition. 6 runs in the last over.
3:41 PM: BAN 30/4 in 7.5 overs
Bangladesh are struggling to strike a partnership as another one of their batter departs. Ritu Moni goes on lbw as youngster Minnu Mani strikes again.
3:36 PM: BAN 23/3 in 6.3 overs
WICKET! Anusha Bareddy gets her maiden T20 international wicket. Murshida Khatun departs and Ritu Moni walks in to bat next.
3:28 PM: BAN 17/2 in 5 overs
Deepti Sharma bowls another tight over. Only 2 runs off six balls.
3:20 PM: BAN 12/2 in 2.3 overs
Indian bowlers make early inroads. Another wicket for Bangladesh as Deepti Sharma bowls to Shathi Rani and Harmanpreet Kaur makes a good catch at first slip. Has a low target really turned the odds in Bangladesh's favour or will the Indian bowlers prevail again?
3:15 PM: BAN 10/1 in 1.2 overs
Minnu Mani strikes in her first over as she gets Shamima Sultana caught on short fine leg. Caught by Shafali Verma. Bangladesh lose their first wicket early in the game.
3:08 PM: Run chase begins
Shathi Rani and Shamima Sultana open for Bangladesh. Pooja Vastrakar bowls the first over.
3:04 PM: 95/8 in 20 overs
A complete batting collapse for India in Mirpur today. The 20th over was the only over that saw them accumulating more than 10 runs with Minnu Mani and Pooja Vastrakar hitting boundaries.
2:58 PM: 84/8 in 19.1 overs
Amanjot looks to go over mid-off, Mostary takes a one-hander in the air but ends up injuring herself.
2:45 PM: 82/7 in 18.4 overs
Deepti plays a rash shot and ends up lofting a dolly to short fine leg. She becomes the seventh Indian to surrender.
2:31 PM: 61/6 in 14.3 overs
Sultana gets her third. Harleen hits it straight at mid-on. The lanky all-rounder falls for a 21-ball six.
2:23 PM: 58/5 in 13.1 overs
Another one bites the dust. The pressure was building up and Jemimah gave in, much to the delight of Sultana. The Indian misses it entirely and Sultana does the rest with the stumping.
2:17 PM: 56/4 in 12 overs
Harleen Deol is in the middle, hits a ball to the mid-on, to which Marufa dives and creates a run out chance. Phew, that is a direct throw and goes to the TV umpires for a referral. Replays show that Deol had already touched upon the mark.
2:10 PM: 48/4 in 8.3 overs
The Women in Blue seem to be in a lot of pressure right now, given that India's top three has headed back to the pavillion. Shorna Aktar makes the most of this opportunity. As Yastika swings across the line, Aktar runs in from long on and goes for a brilliant dive to complete the low catch.
1:56 PM: 37/3 in 5 overs
Now what has prevailed upon the Women in Blue today? Three consecutive wickets for Bangladesh. After Mandhana and Verma, skipper Harmanpreet goes for a golden duck. Khatun is on a brilliant hat-trick.
1:52 PM: 34/2 in 4.3 overs
Mandhana's dismissal is followed by Shafali's. Looks like it was too soon for us to judge her form. Failing to produce the perfect timing, she is deceived by Sultana Khatun who gets a wicket off the first ball of the sixth.
1:49 PM: 33/1 in 4 overs
Nahida Akter catches the big fish. Mandhana departs for a big slog sweep, misses it entirely as she is deceived by the angle and loses her middle and off stumps.
1:42 PM: 26/0 in 3.5 overs
FOUR! First boundary comes off Mandhana's willow off Sultana Khatun's delivery.
1:38 PM: 22/0 in 3 overs
Seems it just took Verma only one match to regain form. The third ball of the third is sent past extra cover, then the fourth is hit in the air and away from the fielder at long on. The last ball of the over is hit straight down the ground, beating the long-on fielder.
1:30 PM: Match begins!
Smriti Mandhana is in the middle with Shafali Verma at the other end. Marufa Akter starts proceedings for Bangladesh.
