BAN-W vs IND-W, 3rd T20I Review: India seal series with comfortable win against Bangladesh

Shefali Verma. (Source -Twitter/X)

India Women won the toss and opted to field first. The third T20I of the five-match T20I series was the second instance in the series where Bangladesh Women would be batting first.

The home team had their best powerplay of the series and were springing along after not conceding a single wicket in the first six (44/0). Dilara Akter took the majority of the strike, scoring her way to 33 off 21 with four boundaries, while her opening partner, Murshida Khatun, was relatively quiet coupled with facing fewer deliveries, scoring 9 off 15 with no boundaries to her name. The first wicket fell three deliveries into the seventh over, with Khatun getting run out. Bangladesh Women could not capitalize on their start, and even though skipper, Nigar Sultana, and Sobhana Mostary tried carrying forward the momentum, they couldn’t quite get a move on.

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Overall, the first innings witnessed three run-outs, two of which involved Renuka Singh. Shreyanka Patil, Renuka, and Pooja Vastrakar, each claiming a wicket, conceded 24, 25, and 26 runs, respectively. Radha Yadav was the only bowler who picked up a couple, and Deepti Sharma being the only one who went wicketless, although being the most economical among her teammates.

Coming to the chase, India Women got off to a flier, scoring 15 more than what their opponents had scored in their powerplay. The 13th over saw Shafali Varma’s departure after bringing up her ninth T20I and the end of the opening partnership, as Ritu Moni executed a stunning one-handed return catch to dismiss her. Smriti Mandhana appeared poised to achieve her maiden T20I fifty in Bangladesh but fell three runs short when she mistimed a shot to deep square-leg off Nahida Akter’s delivery. Fahima Khatun redeemed herself with the ball after her golden-ball duck in the first innings, giving away only 10 runs in the 3 overs he bowled. However, Bangladesh Women couldn’t quite make a comeback into the match as India Women sealed the deal by seven wickets with nine deliveries remaining, securing the series by winning three games in the five-match T20I series.