India kept their Women’s T20 World Cup semifinal hopes alive with a five-wicket victory over Bangladesh at Old Trafford on Thursday, overcoming another disappointing fielding display to register a crucial win with 19 balls to spare.
Despite dropping multiple catches in the field, India successfully restricted Bangladesh to 136 for eight before chasing down the target with relative comfort, although not without a brief middle-order scare.
The chase was built around an attacking half-century from Shafali Verma, who gave India a flying start in its bid to improve its Net Run Rate. She added 30 runs for the opening wicket with Smriti Mandhana before the latter was dismissed after finding Rabeya Khan at cover off Marufa Akter.
Shafali continued to dominate before her innings ended in frustration when she was stumped off Nahida Akter. Clearly disappointed, she struck her helmet with a gloved hand as she walked back after laying the foundation for India’s chase.
India appeared firmly in control before slipping from 94 for two to 98 for four, briefly opening the door for Bangladesh. However, Jemimah Rodrigues played a brisk knock of 26 off just 15 balls, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur remained unbeaten on 13 to guide the side safely home.
Earlier, Bangladesh struggled to build momentum despite India’s lapses in the field. Opener Juairiya Ferdous, dropped by Radha Yadav early in the innings, made the most of the reprieve to top-score with 33. Captain Nigar Sultana contributed 32, while Sobhana Mostary added 22, but the innings never gathered enough pace to seriously challenge India.
Radha, who had endured a difficult outing in the previous match against South Africa with two dropped catches, made amends by claiming three wickets. Fellow left-arm spinner N. Shree Charani continued her outstanding tournament with another two-wicket haul, taking her tally to 12 wickets, the highest by any bowler in this edition of the World Cup.
The victory lifts India to six points in Group A, keeping the team firmly in contention for a place in the last four. Australia remains on course for a semifinal berth, while India now prepares for a crucial clash against the group leaders at Lord’s this weekend. South Africa, meanwhile, remains slightly ahead in the race for qualification with two comparatively easier fixtures remaining.
