The Harmanpreet Kaur-led India women’s team beat Bangladesh by 49 runs in the opening game of the three-match T20I series, in Baroda. After openers Punam Raut and MD Thirushkamini set up the match in India’s favour, the bowlers contributed with breakthroughs at crucial junctures to win the game for India. Despite ending up on the losing side, Bangladesh captain Salma Khatun impressed with an all-round performance.
Earlier, vice-captain Raut and Thirushkamini put India in an advantageous position with a brilliant 130-run opening partnership, after being asked to bat first. Raut slammed 75 off 56 balls with ten boundaries before being sent back by Salma Khatun. The Bangladesh off-spinner who had earlier sent back Thirushkamini to end the stand also claimed Kaur. The only bowler to return with wickets, Khatun finished with three for twelve from her quota of four overs. The Bangladesh skipper had used as many as seven bowlers (including herself) to restrict the home team, but without much success as India went on to post 143 for three.
She then returned to contribute with the bat while chasing the target and was the highest scorer for Bangladesh with 49 runs. However, due to the lack of support from the other end, she failed to take the team across the line. The Indian bowlers struck at regular intervals and stemmed the flow of runs. Shubhalaxmi Sharma set the ball rolling by sending back Farzana Haque in the fourth over to end the first-wicket partnership for a meager 10 runs, while debutant Ritu Dhrub followed up with the wicket of Shukhtara Rahman. But the run out of Shahanaz Parvin with 57 runs on the board triggered a mini-collapse. Mona Mesharm, Ekta Bisht, N Niranjana and Archana Das claimed a wicket each to hold Bangladesh to 94 for seven.
Brief scores: India women 143/3 in 20 overs (P Raut 75, MD Thirushkamini 56, S Khatun 3/12) beat Bangladesh women 94/7 in 20 overs (S Khatun 49*, A Das 1/15, R Dhrub 1/15, S Sharma 1/15, E Bisht 1/17, N Niranjana 1/17) by 49 runs
