With two games remaining, the India women’s team Shafali Verma and Smriti. had an unbeatable 3-0 lead after chasing down 118 with seven wickets remaining.
A significant portion of India’s recent triumphs have been attributed to the opening combination of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. That was also the case on Thursday when Mandhana and Verma combined for a 91-run opening partnership to help India defeat Bangladesh by seven wickets in the third Twenty20 International in Sylhet. With two games remaining, the visitors had an unbeatable 3-0 advantage.
Following their bowling-led restriction of Bangladesh to 117/8, Mandhana and Verma quickly achieved the objective with a smooth combination. As was to be expected, Verma was the more dominant partner, hitting eight fours and scoring 51 off just 38 balls. Mandhana made 42 off 47 balls, hitting five fours and one six.
India should be well-prepared thanks to Mandhana and Verma’s runs at the top of the order, especially with the Women’s T20 World Cup set to take place in Bangladesh in September. Being a left-right pair, they complement each other effectively and force bowlers to constantly change their lines. They helped India storm to 59/0 in the opening six overs on Thursday by capitalizing on the field constraints. In the sixth over, Shafali smashed three straight fours against Nahida Akter, contributing to the early flow of boundaries.
By the time that Mandhana and Verma were dismissed in quick succession, the result was all but sealed. Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh were the unbeaten batters who completed the formalities.
India’s bowlers also stepped up. Despite Dilara Akter setting a solid foundation for the hosts with a 27-ball 39, they were never able to put the Indians under pressure in the field. Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav was typically economical, conceding just 22 runs in her four overs while also claiming the wickets of Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana and Shorifa Khatun. Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar, and Shreyanka Patil finished with a wicket apiece.
The next two T20Is will also be held in Sylhet on May 6 and 9.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 117/8 in 20 overs (Dilara Akter 39, Nigar Sultana 28; Radha Yadav 2/22) India 121/3 in 18.3 overs (Shafali Verma 51, Smriti Mandhana 47; Ritu Moni 1/10). India won by 7 wickets.
