India thump Tigresses by nine wickets

India made short work of Bangladesh’s paltry target of 156 as they romped home in 33.3 overs for the loss of one wicket during the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier, 5th Super match at Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground, Colombo today.

India lost the wicket of Deepti Sharma early in their chase, but their second wicket unbeaten stand of 136 in 25 overs between captain Mithali Raj and Mona Meshram kept the Bangladesh bowlers at bay and took their team across the finish line.

Mona was unbeaten on 78. She faced 92 balls and smashed 12 fours during her match-winning knock. Mithali was not out at 73 from 87 balls in the end. Khadija Tul Kubra took the wicket of Deepti during India’s innings.

Earlier, Bangladesh were restricted to 155 for 8 in 50 overs.

After losing early wickets, Bangladesh consolidated with their third wicket stand of 62 in 23.2 overs but India managed to strike in regular intervals and denied their opponents a decent total.

Fargana Hoque’s 50 was the highest score in Bangladesh’s sorry looking scorecard. She played 107 balls in her innings that contained five hits to the fence. Sharmin Akhter made 35 from 82.

For India, Manshi Joshi took 3-25 in 10 while Devika Viadya captured two wickets for 17 runs in seven overs.

Bangladesh lost their eighth wicket in the last over when Jahanara Alam was dismissed for 2.

Jahanara Alam c Krishnamurthy b Vaidya 2 (7m 5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 40.00

Fall of wicket 155/8 (49.6 ov); Partnership: 15 runs, 2.1 overs, RR: 6.92

The procession of wickets continued in the 48th over when Nigar Sultana was run out for 18 to leave Bangladesh at 140 for 7.

Nigar Sultana run out 18 (31m 25b 1x4 0x6) SR: 72.00

Salma Khatun became the sixth wicket to fall when she was bowled by Rajeshwari Gayakwad for 14 in the 47th over.

Salma Khatun b Gayakwad 14 (15m 15b 2x4 0x6) SR: 93.33

Fargana Hoque, who held the innings together with the bat was dismissed in the 43rd over after scoring 50. She was sent back by Manshi Joshi.

Fargana Hoque c Gayakwad b Joshi 50 (121m 107b 5x4 0x6) SR: 46.72

Bangladesh lost their fourth wicket when Rumana Ahmed was sent back by Shikha Pandey for 11in the 40th over with the Tigresses struggling at 97 for 4.

Rumana Ahmed c Krishnamurthy b Pandey 11 (30m 23b 1x4 0x6) SR: 47.82

Fall of wicket 97/4 (39.5 ov); Partnership: 21 runs, 7.0 overs, RR: 3.00

After Sharmin Akhter and Fargana Hoque steadied ship with their third wicket partnership, Bangladesh lost the wicket of Sharmin for 35.

Sharmin was sent back to the pavilion by Devika Vaidya to leave Bangladesh at 76 for 3 after 32.5 overs.

Sharmin Akhter st †Verma b Vaidya 35 (116m 82b 4x4 0x6) SR: 42.68

Fall of wicket 76/3 (32.5 ov); Partnership: 62 runs, 23.2 overs, RR: 2.65

Earlier, Bangladesh were rocked in the tenth over when the dismissal of Sanjida Islam for 2 left her team in a predicament at 14 for 2.

With runs becoming extremely difficult to come by, Bangladesh buckled under pressure and lost their second wicket when Mansi Joshi bowled Sanjida, and stopped the second wicket stand at 3 in 2.1 overs.

Sanjida Islam b Joshi 2 (10m 11b 0x4 0x6) SR: 18.18

Bangladesh lost their first wicket early after a quiet start when Sharmin Sultana was dismissed for seven by Mansi.

After India captain Mithali Raj won the toss and invited her counterpart Rumana Ahmed to bat first, Bangladesh openers were unable to break the shackles of tight bowling from the Indian bowlers.

Sharmin played 22 balls during her stay at the wicket, and the first wicket partnership eked out 11 runs in 7.2 overs.

Sharmin Sultana c Meshram b Joshi 7 (27m 22b 0x4 0x6) SR: 31.81

Bangladesh

Sanjida Islam, Fargana Hoque, Rumana Ahmed (Captain), Nigar Sultana (Wicketkeeper), Salma Khatun, Shaila Sharmin, Khadija Tul Kubra, Jahanara Alam, Panna Ghosh, Sharmin Sultana and Sharmin Akhter

India

MR Meshram, DB Sharma, RS Gayakwad, M Raj (Captain), H Kaur, V Krishnamurthy, DP Vaidya, S Pandey, S Verma (Wicketkeeper), M Joshi, Poonam Yadav, S Pandey and M Joshi