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Introduction:
India continued their dominance in the T20 series against Bangladesh, securing a comfortable 56-run victory in the fourth match in Sylhet. The win gives India a 4-0 lead in the five-match series, with the final game yet to be played.
Harmanpreet’s Milestone and India’s Solid Batting
Harmanpreet Kaur, playing her 300th international game, was a key contributor to India’s strong batting performance. Despite a cloudy day and a rain interruption, Harmanpreet’s brisk 39 runs off 26 balls helped India post a competitive total of 122 for 6 in just 14 overs. This was after Bangladesh won the toss and asked India to bat.
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The Indian batting lineup faced early setbacks, with Shafali Verma departing for a four-ball 2 in the second over. However, D Hemalatha played a quick cameo, scoring 22 off 14 balls, including two fours and two sixes. Unfortunately, her stay was cut short by Bangladesh’s young fast bowler Marufa Akther, who trapped her lbw with an inswinger.
The rain halted play for about an hour when India reached 48 for 2 in 5.5 overs. After the game resumed, Smriti Mandhana quickly scored 22 off 18 balls before being bowled by Rabeya Khan. Despite these challenges, India maintained a steady pace, thanks to Harmanpreet and Richa Ghosh.
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Harmanpreet and Richa Ghosh Build Momentum
After Smriti Mandhana’s dismissal, Harmanpreet Kaur stepped up to lead the charge. She played aggressively, finding the boundary with ease and turning the pressure back on Bangladesh’s bowlers. Harmanpreet quickly went from 10 runs off 8 balls to 39 runs off just 26 balls, smashing five crisp boundaries that kept the scoreboard ticking. Her powerful stroke play not only boosted India’s run rate but also lifted the team’s morale after the rain delay.
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Richa Ghosh was the perfect partner, providing support with her own attacking approach. In just 15 balls, she notched up 24 runs, including three stylish fours and a towering six. Together, Harmanpreet and Richa Ghosh put together a partnership of 44 runs in only 28 balls for the fourth wicket, setting the stage for India’s strong finish.
Their aggressive batting helped India score 52 runs in the final five overs, allowing them to post a solid total despite the rain-shortened innings. This late surge proved crucial in setting a competitive target for Bangladesh.
India’s Spinners Dominate Bangladesh’s Chase
With a revised Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) target of 125 runs, Bangladesh found it challenging to gain momentum on a slow pitch. India’s bowlers, particularly Deepti Sharma, capitalized on the conditions. Deepti struck early, dismissing Murshida Khatun in the fourth over, disrupting Bangladesh’s start.
She then took a crucial second wicket by removing Dilhara Akter, who had been the team’s leading scorer with 21 runs from 25 balls. Bangladesh’s woes deepened when Rubya Haider was run out following a mix-up with her captain in the eighth over, further reducing their hopes of building a successful chase against a disciplined Indian bowling attack.
S Asha, India’s oldest debutant in women’s T20Is at 33, made an impressive start, taking two wickets, including the prized scalp of Bangladesh’s captain Nigar Sultana, who was trapped lbw by a well-disguised googly. Asha also dismissed Shorna Akter with a mistimed slog-sweep, resulting in a simple catch for Richa Ghosh. Asha finished her spell with figures of 2 for 18 in three overs.
Bangladesh’s batting woes continued, and their collapse from 38 for 1 to 47 for 6 effectively ended any hopes of a successful chase. The Indian spinners were instrumental in restricting Bangladesh to just 66 for 7 in their 14 overs, ensuring India’s comfortable victory.
Conclusion: India Women’s dominant victory
India’s all-round performance, with strong batting from Harmanpreet and Richa Ghosh, combined with excellent bowling by Deepti Sharma and S Asha, sealed a comfortable win for India in the fourth T20I. This victory further cements India’s dominance in the series, with the final match to come.
