World T20: Indian eves snatch victory in the tournament opener: Team India skipper, Mithali Raj, led from the front and laid the foundation for a win in their tournament opener against Bangladesh.
Put into bat, Mithali, opening the batting alongwith Vellaswamy Vanitha, put up a first-wicket partnership of 62 runs in 7.4 overs, thus providing a great platform for the middle order to go for the slog.
Vanitha notched up 38 runs in 24 deliveries with the help of 7 fours.
Later Mithali was also involved in a 32-run partnership in 5 overs with the all-rounder Harmanreet Kaur for the third wicket, before departing after scoring 42 runs off 35 deliveries with 5 fours. However, Mithali received a reprieve when she was on 28, dropped by Khadija Tul Kubra.
With a solid base provided by the openers, Kaur and Veda Krishnamurthi went on a run-spree and added 41 runs in 4 overs for the fourth wicket.
Kaur contributed 40 runs off 29 deliveries with 3 four and 2 sixes while Veda remained unbeaten on 36 runs off 24 deliveries aided by 2 huge sixes.
These useful partnerships helped India put on 163 runs on the board for the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs.
Fahima Khatun of Bangladesh picked up two wickets but not before conceding 31 runs in her 4 overs.
Chasing the target of 164 runs for a win seemed a very tall order for the Bangladesh batswomen.
With the wicket-keeper, Nigar Sultana, top scoring with 27 runs off 25 deliveries aided by a solitary boundary, the target was clearly out of reach for them.
Spinners Anuja Patil (4-0-16-2) and Poonam Yadav (4-0-17-2) kept up the pressure on the batswomen and did not let them off the hook. Though Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey and Harmanpreet really bowled well but could not be amongst the wickets.
Bangladesh ended their innings with 91 runs on the board, losing 5 wickets in their quota of 20 overs, giving India a victory by a margin of 72 runs.
Harmanpreet Kaur was adjudged the Player of the Match.
Speaking at the post-match presentation party, Kaur said, “I just tried to execute my shots. We just wanted to put a good total on board. I hope we will continue the momentum”.
Bangladesh skipper, Jaharana Alam said, “Rumana and Nahida bowled well and India had wickets in hand. We just gave more runs. India are a strong side. The required run rate moved to 10-12. It is quite good to score 91 against a strong team like India”.
The winning skipper, Mithali Raj stated, “The team has done well, though Bangladesh is an improved side. This win gives us a lot of confidence. The ball was coming onto the bat, alongwide Vanitha we did the job in the first six overs”.
Next the Bangladesh Women take on the England Eves at Bangalore while Indian Women have a face-off with their Pakistan counterpart in Delhi.
