Harmanpreet leads India Women to big win
With India at 95 for 3 in the 14th over, Harmanpreet and Krishnamurthy joined hands. Harmanpreet had just been picking up singles while Raj was around, but decided to up the ante after the captain fell. She danced down the track to the offspin of Khadija Tul Kubra to smash the first six of the tournament over long-off.
The pair put on 41 runs in only four overs as India pressed the accelerator. With time at the crease, Harmanpreet’s confidence grew and even mishits began to find the boundary. Having hit Rumana for her second six of the day, the right-hander was caught in the deep going for another, for a 29-ball 40. Her innings included three fours and two sixes.
Krishnamurthy also unfurled her whole array of strokes, smashing two sixes off Fahima and taking India to a formidable total. She finished unbeaten on 30 off 24 balls which included two sixes.
Rumana and Fahima picked up two wickets each for Bangladesh, but it was Nahida, the 15-year old left-arm spinner, who was the most impressive bowler although she picked up only one wicket.
In reply, Bangladesh’s innings never really took off. Although it managed to tackle the pace of Jhulan Goswami, the batters were undone by the Indian spinners, with Anuja Patil and Poonam Yadav picking up two wickets each.
Sharmin Akhter (21), the opener, and Sultana (27 not out) contributed the most substantial scores for Bangladesh.
Ayasha Rahman was the first to go, caught at fine leg off Patil. Yadav picked up the two of the next three wickets to fall, reducing Bangladesh to 44 for 4.
The Indians were clinical in the field, Deepti Sharma, substituting for Vanitha, even effecting a run-out to see the back of Sharmin.
The visiting side never recovered from there, ending on 91 for 5 thanks to a gritty 25-ball knock from Sultana.
