Bangladesh, India start Asia Cup with wins
Defending champions Bangladesh and India started the Women's Asia Cup on a winning note, beating Thailand and Sri Lanka respectively at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
The hosts thrashed Thailand by nine wickets after Nigar Sultana's troops bundled out the opposition for just 82. The Tigresses reached the target with fifty balls to spare.
Thailand faced the music immediately after electing to bat and the Tigress never looked back. Rumana Ahmed scalped three while Nahida Akter, Sanjida Akter and Shohely Akter took two wickets each.
In reply, Shamima Sultana's quickfire thirty-ball 49 and Fargana Hoque's unbeaten 26 helped Bangladesh canter to the target.
Nigar hailed the team's approach and appreciated the morale-boost.
"The first game is always important because it sets the tone for the rest of the tournament. It also boosts the team's morale going forward. Obviously, the pitch at the World Cup qualifiers and this pitch is different. I feel like we should win convincingly against teams like Thailand," Nigar said.
Later in the day, India registered 41-run win over Sri Lanka after posting 150 for six courtesy of Jemimah Rodrgues, who top-scored with 76 runs off 53 balls. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur added 33 runs.
In reply, Sri Lanka were bundled out for 109. Nilakshi de Silva top-scored with 30. Dylan Hemalatha bagged three wickets for India while Pooja Vastrakar and Deepti Sharma took two wickets each.
Comments