Dominant India crush Bangladesh to storm into Women's Asia Cup final with ease
India stormed into the Women's Asia Cup final after a dominant 40-run win over Bangladesh in Dubai. Shafali Verma's 64 and a disciplined spin attack helped India maintain their unbeaten run and reach a 10th final.
by Sabyasachi Chowdhury · India TodayIn Short
- India reached their 10th Women’s Asia Cup final after beating Bangladesh
- Shafali Verma scored 64 runs off 40 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes
- India restricted Bangladesh to 109 for 7 while defending 150
Brief Scores: India (149/6 in 20 overs) beat Bangladesh (109/7 in 20 overs) by 40 runs in Dubai in the Women's Asia Cup semi-final match.
India continued their dominant run in the Women’s Asia Cup, storming into the final with a commanding 40-run win over Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side posted 149 for 6, with Shafali Verma’s explosive 64 laying the foundation before India’s spin-heavy attack restricted Bangladesh to 109 for 7.
India have now reached the final in every edition of the tournament, making this their 10th appearance in the title clash. They also extended their dominance over Bangladesh, registering a ninth consecutive T20I win against them in women’s cricket.
India will now await the winner of Friday’s second semi-final between Fatima Sana’s Pakistan and Chamari Athapaththu’s Sri Lanka.
Shafali provided the impetus for India’s total, although Bangladesh’s fielding repeatedly gave her a reprieve. The opener was dropped three times before eventually being dismissed, but her aggressive approach helped India post a competitive total despite a slowdown in the middle overs.
SHAFALI SURVIVES THREE DROPS TO POWER INDIA
Bangladesh had an early chance to dismiss Shafali in the first over. Sultana Khatun found the edge of the opener’s aggression, but Fahima Khatun could not hold on to a difficult chance at long-on with Shafali on six.
Sultana did strike later in the over, dismissing Smriti Mandhana for just two off five balls. Bangladesh, however, continued to let Shafali off the hook, making life difficult for themselves.
The second reprieve came in Marufa Akter’s second over. Shafali skied a chance towards mid-on on 11, but Shorna Akter failed to hold on. Shafali responded immediately, taking Sultana for back-to-back sixes in the third over.
India reached 45 for 1 in the powerplay, with Pratika Rawal providing valuable support. Rawal hit Rabeya Khan for a six and combined with Shafali for a 50-run partnership off 45 balls before falling for 20 off 24 deliveries, with Rabeya providing the breakthrough.
India were 59 for 2 after 10 overs, but Shafali soon shifted gears. She struck Marufa for consecutive fours and brought up her half-century in just 35 balls.
Bangladesh’s fielding woes resurfaced in the 14th over. Shafali miscued a heave towards deep midwicket, where the fielder attempted a reverse-cup catch but failed to hold on. The ball appeared to hit her chin and chest before running away for four, giving Shafali another reprieve on 56.
Sultana eventually had her revenge. After Shafali hit another four, she attempted to clear long-on but failed to get enough elevation. Farjana Easmin completed the catch, ending a superb innings of 64 off 40 balls, including seven fours and three sixes.
RICHA, DEEPTI ADD LATE MOMENTUM
India still needed a strong finish, and Richa Ghosh provided the acceleration. She too received a reprieve when Fahima dropped her off Rabeya, but Richa made Bangladesh pay.
The wicketkeeper-batter attacked the spinners and struck two sixes during her 21 off 16 balls. Her partnership with Harmanpreet gave India the impetus they needed after Shafali’s departure.
Harmanpreet, however, found run-scoring difficult for much of her innings. The India captain was on six from 18 balls before finally breaking free, launching Fahima over the bowler’s head for a six. She finished with 24 off 28 balls and two sixes.
Richa’s counterattack ended in the 19th over when Nahida Akter stumped her after she charged down the track. Nahida was among Bangladesh’s better performers with the ball, finishing with 1 for 25 from four overs, while Rabeya took 1 for 22.
India nevertheless found another burst of momentum at the end. Deepti Sharma attacked Marufa in the final over, hitting a four and a six before falling for 13 off six balls. Bharti Fulmali was run out off the final delivery as India closed on 149 for 6.
Shafali had supplied the bulk of the fireworks, but Richa, Harmanpreet and Deepti ensured India had a total that could put Bangladesh under pressure on a slow Dubai surface.
CHARANI MAKES HISTORY AS INDIA SQUEEZE BANGLADESH
Bangladesh’s chase began with another let-off for Dilara Akter. In the first over, Dilara cut Kranti Gaud towards cover, where Pratika Rawal got both hands to the ball but failed to hold on.
The reprieve did little to change the nature of the powerplay. India made Dilara and Juairiya Ferdous work hard for their runs, repeatedly forcing them to manufacture scoring opportunities rather than allowing easy boundaries.
The key breakthrough came from Shree Charani in the sixth over. Charani had entered the match on 49 T20I wickets and needed just one more to create history. She delivered exactly when India needed it.
Juairiya attempted a slog sweep but top-edged the ball on the leg side. Richa Ghosh called for the catch, moved forward and completed it safely. Juairiya departed for 14 off 18 balls, giving Charani her 50th T20I wicket in just 29 matches.
That made Charani the fastest Indian to the landmark, surpassing Kuldeep Yadav’s previous record of 30 matches. She then completed a wicket-maiden, underlining the control that has made her one of India’s most important T20I bowlers.
Dilara briefly offered Bangladesh some hope in the seventh over, breaking a prolonged period without a boundary by hitting Prema Rawat through extra cover. But Deepti Sharma soon struck, dismissing Dilara for 21 off 26 balls.
Deepti continued to dictate terms. She removed Sobhana Mostary for 18 and later bowled Sharmin Akhter for one, finishing with excellent figures of 3 for 26 from four overs.
INDIA SPINNERS LEAVE BANGLADESH WITH NO WAY BACK
Bangladesh reached only 46 for 2 after 10 overs, leaving them needing 104 runs from the final 60 balls. The required rate had already climbed to 10.4 an over, and India’s spinners were making it increasingly difficult for the batters to find boundaries.
Nigar Sultana attempted to change the tempo with a six off Deepti, but Rawat removed the Bangladesh captain for 19 from 17 balls. Mostary had also struggled to find fluency before Deepti knocked back her off stump.
India’s fielding, however, was not flawless. While Bangladesh’s repeated dropped catches had been a major feature of the first innings, India also put down three chances. Rawal was responsible for two, while Richa also spilled one behind the stumps.
There was further drama in the 18th over when Richa and Nandani Sharma collided while chasing a top edge from Shorna Akter off Shafali Verma. The two India fielders both went for the ball and collided, with Richa suffering a jerk to her neck and head. A medical check followed, but both players were able to continue.
Shorna was one of the few Bangladesh batters to provide late resistance. She struck Shafali for a six and later added a four from Charani, finishing with a spirited 21 off 15 balls. Fahima Khatun also contributed 14 from 14 before falling in the final over.
But the asking rate had become far beyond Bangladesh’s reach. India’s slow bowlers kept the batters tied down, while the wickets ensured there was no sustained partnership to threaten the target.
The result was another statement of India’s superiority in the tournament and extended their remarkable record of reaching the Women’s Asia Cup final every time they have competed.
With their batting providing enough runs and the spinners once again taking control, India now stand one win away from another Asia Cup title.
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