India women’s cricket team secured a dominant 10-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first semi-final of the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup in Dambulla on Friday. Opting to bat first, Bangladesh were bundled out for a paltry 80, with Indian bowlers Renuka Singh (3/10) and Radha Yadav (2/13) doing most of the damage.
In reply, India chased down the target with ease, reaching 81/0 in just 11.2 overs. Shafali Verma remained unbeaten on 41 while Smriti Mandhana scored 39 not out. The Indian openers put on an unbroken 81-run stand to power their team to a comprehensive victory.
India’s spinners, led by Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav and Tanuja Kanwar, kept a tight leash on the Bangladesh batters, not allowing them to score freely. Renuka Singh struck early blows, dismissing the top three Bangladesh batters to leave them reeling at 16/3.
Captain Nigar Sultana (24) and Shorna Akter (20) tried to repair the innings with a 30-run stand for the fourth wicket, but the rest of the Bangladesh batting crumbled under pressure. They could only manage 80 runs in their allotted 20 overs.
In their chase, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana were in complete control, punishing the Bangladesh bowlers with their aggressive strokeplay. They raced to 50 in just 5.1 overs and completed the formalities with 52 balls to spare.
India’s clinical performance with both bat and ball underlined their status as the favorites to win the Women’s Asia Cup for the ninth time. They will face the winner of the second semi-final between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the final on Sunday.
Bangladesh will be disappointed with their batting display, failing to put up a competitive total on the board. Their bowlers also struggled to make inroads against the Indian openers.
The 10-wicket victory showcased India’s all-round prowess and their ability to dominate their opponents in big tournaments. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana’s unbeaten knocks were the icing on the cake for the defending champions.
India’s spinners and pacers complemented each other well, restricting Bangladesh to a below-par score. The team will be confident of continuing their winning momentum in the final and lifting the Asia Cup trophy.
Bangladesh will need to regroup quickly and learn from this experience to challenge the top teams in women’s cricket. They have the talent, but need to show more consistency and resilience in pressure situations.