In a game marred by rain on Monday, May 6, India produced yet another masterful display to defeat Bangladesh 56 runs to take a 4-0 lead in the five-match Twenty20 International series. Bangladesh, facing a daunting goal of 125 (modified according to DLS), could only muster 68/7 to lose the series once again, as India scored 122/6 in a game cut down to 14 overs.
Habiba Islam Pinky, a 14-year-old debutant for Bangladesh, didn’t have much of an influence on the game as she gave up 20 runs in her two overs without taking a wicket. However, 33-year-old Asha Sobhana, who finished with 2–18 from her three overs, was awarded her maiden cap for India.
In the opening two overs of the chase, Dilara Akter hit a few boundaries, but India tightened up, giving up just 21 runs in the powerplay (first four overs), and Deepti Sharma also removed Murshida Khatun from the game. With Akter and Rubya Haider hitting at less than 100, India continued to deny the host team’s batters boundary choices. This raised Bangladesh’s asking rate, as they need 89 off seven overs.
India applied constant pressure, and soon after, Deepti removed Akter and Sobhana removed Nigar Sultana. Rubya Haider was run out in between those two wickets. After Radha Yadav claimed her first wicket and Sobhana her second, the wicket procession continued, bringing Bangladesh to 47/6 in the eleventh over. The gap between the two sides was once again revealed, as they could only muster another 21 runs for the loss of one wicket after that.
Earlier, after being invited to bat, India lost Shafali Verma in the second over as she attempted to hit Ritu Moni over the in-field. However, Dayalan Hemalatha made sure the visiting team got off to a good start by hitting two fours and as many sixes in her rapid 22 before being out leg-before by Marufa Akter. In the final over of the powerplay, rain pushed the players off the pitch, leaving Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur at the crease.
After play resumed, with fewer overs available, it was all about going for the hits. Although India lost a few wickets in the process, they managed to amass a respectable total thanks to enough cameos. After Rabeya Khan bowled Mandhana for 22, Richa Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur put on a rapid 44-run partnership in 28 deliveries, enabling India to surpass 100 in the 12th over. India managed to surpass 120 runs even though they lost three wickets in the last over, which was more than enough.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 68/7 in 14 overs (Dilara Akter 21; Deepti Sharma 2-13, Asha Sobhana 2-18) lost to India 122/6 in 14 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 39, Richa Ghosh 24; Marufa Akter 2-24) by 56 runs (DLS method).
