India Cruise Past Bangladesh to Secure Sixth T20 Asia Cup Final Spot

India posted 149 for 6, anchored by Shafali Verma’s 64, as they defeated Bangladesh 109 for 7 by 40 runs to reach the final. (Sultana took 2-30, while Deepti Sharma claimed 3-26 for Bangladesh.)

After being put in to bat on a sluggish pitch, Shafali Verma played a match-defining innings of 64 off 40 balls, capitalizing on multiple reprieves at the scores of 6, 11, 50, and 56. Her aggressive approach propelled India to a formidable total despite the rest of the batting lineup failing to find their rhythm.

While Juairiya Ferdous and Dilara Akter started with positive intent, the introduction of spin rendered them powerless. Although India contributed to the batting collapse with four difficult catches, Bangladesh lacked a match-winner comparable to Shafali to exploit the errors, ultimately falling short at 109 for 7.

Verma’s Fortune Holds Firm

Marufa Akter was notably threatening with the new ball, utilizing her stock inswinger against right-handers and her legcutter to beat Shafali’s outside edge on multiple occasions.

Meanwhile, off-spinner Sultana Khatun generated two chances in her opening over. Fahima Khatun dropped Shafali at long-on, but Smriti Mandhana was not as fortunate, as Shorna Akter dismissed her with a miscued aerial attempt at mid-on.

Sultana Khatun dismissed Smriti Mandhana in her opening over • Getty Images

Shafali survived another scare in the third over when Nahida Akter failed to grip a low chance at mid-on off Marufa. The batsman then exacerbated Bangladesh’s struggles by clearing Sultana for back-to-back sixes over long-off. Despite Pratika Rawal’s struggles at the other end, Shafali’s firepower guided India to a solid 45 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.

Rawal and Harmanpreet’s Struggles

Rawal began brightly with a classical off-drive for four off the first ball and also launched Rabeya Khan for a six in the final over of the powerplay. However, she found it difficult to rotate the strike and eventually managed only 20 runs off 24 deliveries.

Harmanpreet Kaur similarly struggled to find momentum, reaching just 3 off 15 balls at one stage. Consequently, India could manage only 33 runs in the seven overs following the powerplay.

Verma Continues to Defy the Odds

Shafali reached her half-century off 35 balls and then encountered further good fortune. On the very next ball, a miscommunication with Harmanpreet should have resulted in an easy run-out at the bowler’s end, but Fahima fumbled the throw.

Shafali then lofted Sultana over deep midwicket for a six. Attempting to repeat the feat on the next ball, Shorna dropped the catch as the ball burst through her hands, struck her on the face, and trickled to the boundary. Nevertheless, Shafali holed out to long-on in the same over, with substitute Farjana Easmin taking the catch.

Richa Ghosh (21 off 16) and Deepti Sharma (13 off six) injected crucial momentum towards the end of the innings, while Harmanpreet remained unbeaten on 24 off 28.

An air of nonchalance from Deepti Sharma after taking a wicket • BCCI

Bangladesh’s Promising Beginning

Ferdous and Dilara provided Bangladesh with a solid start, each striking two boundaries in the first three overs. However, an abundance of dot balls limited their progress, leaving the scoreboard at just 18 for no loss after three overs.

Following this, Harmanpreet introduced spin from both ends, further dampening the scoring rate. N Shree Charani delivered a wicket maiden in the final over of the powerplay, claiming Ferdous as her 50th T20I wicket.

Sharma’s Clinical Spell

Deepti struck in her very first over. Facing a climbing asking rate, Ferdous attempted to go aerial but holed out to deep midwicket. Nigar Sultana and Sobhana Mostary added 31 for the third wicket, but it took them 34 balls to do so.

Deepti ended the partnership by castingling Mostary, triggering a mini-collapse as Bangladesh lost three wickets in 15 balls for 17 runs. Prema Rawat then had Nigar caught at short third before Deepti bowled Sharmin Akhter to reduce Bangladesh to 83 for 5 in the 16th over.

India’s Defensive Lapses

Although the result was effectively decided by then, India’s fielding remained sub-par throughout the match. In the very first over of the chase, Rawal dropped an overhead catch at cover-point to reprieve Dilara. She later dropped Mostary at backward point, while Mandhana misjudged a boundary catch. Additionally, Ghosh and Nandani Sharma collided while going for one near square leg. On another day, these mistakes could have proved costly.

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