India crushed Bangladesh by ten wickets, in a semi final match at which Renuka Singh took three wickets and Smriti Mandhana scored the fastest half century of 55 runs from just 39 balls. The team will be battling against the winner of tomorrow’s second Semi-Finals between Pakistan and Sri Lanka for the title on Sunday.
Shafali (26 not out, 28b, 2×4) and Mandhana (55 not out, 39b, 9×4, 1×6) were absolutely brilliant with their batting as they achieved the target of 81 set before them easily.
India had reached to an unbelievable score of with no loss after only eleven overs.
Shafali and Mandhana hit many boundaries in the first six overs that India powered to stumps on day one.
Rabeya Khan dropped Shafali when she was at twenty one; then again she hammered over extra cover producing some strong shots that went for four.
On strike at the other end, Mandhana played some beautiful drives through covers like the previous instance where she hit one past Marufa Akter.
Mandhana finished off Bangladesh’s misery by dispatching Jahanara Alam to deep square leg for a maximum as India won with three balls to spare having restricted their opponents to a paltry total of eighty all out.
Brilliant spells up front by Renuka (3/10) and then Radha Yadav (3/14) during middle overs destroyed Bangladesh’s innings.
Actually speaking about Renuka’s deep cuts there were none made over first six overs by Bangladesh this time around!
Choosing bat first let left-arm spinner Radha Yadav (3/14) provide plenty support to Rajeshwari Gayakwad who bowled four straight over spells in his spell recording figures of 3/10 respectively.
Dilara Akter was sacked by Renuka in the very first over itself when her slog sweep failed to carry all the way to Uma Chetry stationed at deep midwicket.
Renuka finally got rid of Ishma Tanjim who had been caught off-guard in her previous over by taking a line that snuck right up next to her body, as shown in a smartly taken catch by Tanuja Kanwar off a mistimed whip across the line.
A slightly short of length delivery from Renuka saw Murshida Khatun smash it straight back, but unluckily Shafali was stationed exactly there and she had it directly on her hands at midwicket for a simple catch.
Bangladesh were going haywire as they managed only twenty five runs for three wickets during the Power Play period. Their captain Nigar Sultana (32, 51b, 2×4) was third highest run getter of this competition with thirty two runs today also.
Sultana tried hard however even she could not last too long against Indian bowlers, who gave away just seven runs off overs seven and ten and lost Rumana Ahmed to Radha’s fast arm ball.
Moreover, there was limited backing for Sultana while India’s spin attack kept her away from playing her signature shot comfortably at any moment on that day.
