With a comfortable 46-run win against Bangladesh women, India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. India captain Harmanpreet Kaur (103) starred with the bat and the ball. The 24-year-old struck a century and returned to claim two wickets as India coasted to a 46-run win.
Earlier, opener Punam Raut (80) too played an important knock to help set up the game for India after they opted to bat first in the second match of the series at the Sardar Patel Stadium. The home team lost opener MD Thirushkamini with 27 runs on the board. But Raut and Smriti Mandhana added for 48 for the second wicket, until the Bangladesh captain Salma Khatun removed the latter. Kaur then joined the opener in the middle and the duo took India to 184 with a 109-run stand, before Jahanara Alam ended the partnership. Raut’s 104-ball stay at the crease included nine boundaries. But it was the skipper who shone in the game. Her sparkling innings came off 100 balls and was peppered with 11 boundaries and two sixes. They helped India set a 257-run target for the visitors.
Chasing the formidable target, the Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals. Although No.3 bat Rumana Ahmed put up a fight with a 94-ball 75, she wasn’t able to find an able ally at the other end to build partnerships. Ekta Bisht who removed Ahmed finished with three for 34, while Kaur claimed two wickets to help restrict the opposition to 210 for nine.
Brief scores: India women 256/6 in 50 overs (H Kaur 103, P Raut 80) beat Bangladesh women 210/9 in 50 overs (R Ahmed 75, E Bisht 3/34, H Kaur 2/30) by 46 runs
