Current Match Report – BDESH (W) vs India (W) 1st Semi-Ultimate 2023
India 52 for two (Rodrigues 20*, Shafali 17) beat Bangladesh 51 all out (Nigar 12, Vastrakar 4-17) by eight wickets
Pooja Vastrakar may have properly been watching the Asian Video games again residence on TV. She was solely initially named as a non-travelling reserve within the squad, who was to fly again residence after a week-long pre-departure camp in Bengaluru. However when Anjali Sarvani pulled up injured a day previous to departure, the path of Vastrakar’s flight modified from Indore to Hangzhou.Every week later, on Sunday, Vastrakar proved why she ought to have been thought-about within the first place. Her career-best T20I figures of 4 for 17 helped skittle Bangladesh for 51 within the semi-final as India vaulted themselves into gold medal rivalry. Up subsequent within the ultimate on Monday would be the winner of Pakistan versus Sri Lanka within the second semi-final.India will head into that recreation understanding their common captain Harmanpreet Kaur will likely be accessible after her two-match suspension ended with Sunday’s recreation, which by the way was given to her following an acrimonious collection in opposition to Bangladesh in July.
Vastrakar’s early incision
Nip-backers, outswingers, laborious lengths – Vastrakar confirmed she’s no one-trick pony as she bought it to zip round with the brand new ball. And within the first over itself, she had two wickets with two totally different deliveries. Shathi Rani was caught behind first ball of the match after being enticed to drive an away-swinger and Shamima Sultana was trapped lbw taking part in throughout one which hit the seam and jagged again to hit her below-the-knee roll.
In her subsequent over, Vastrakar ought to have had a 3rd however Smriti Mandhana grassed a sitter at mid-off. Sobhana Mostary could not capitalise, managing only one extra run, earlier than being dismissed for 8 in Vastrakar’s third straight over contained in the powerplay. And it was virtually an motion replay of the reprieve. Besides Mandhana noticed this rigorously lodge in her palms.
Within the subsequent over, debutant Titas Sadhu picked up her maiden wicket with a wonderful supply of her personal. Angled in full from huge of the crease, Sadhu had Shorna Akter taking part in throughout a full supply that held its line to crash into the center. At 21 for 4 after the powerplay, Bangladesh have been tied in knots on a floor that held up significantly, the place shot-making wasn’t simple. Underneath the covers for 2 full days within the lead-up to the match, the floor appeared a contact unpredictable, which additional magnified Bangladesh’s resolution to bat early into the competition.
Run outs add to Bangladesh’s distress
It wasn’t simply shot choice that hampered Bangladesh, although. Their working between the wickets was equally poor, and accounted for 2 run outs that ought to have by no means been. Nigar Sultana, one in every of Bangladesh’s most-accomplished batters, was out trying a single to further cowl the place Devika Vaidya swooped in to impact a direct hit on the bowler’s finish.
Two balls later, Fahima Khatun was run out with out dealing with a ball when Ritu Moni dabbed one to brief third, the place Kanika Ahuja fired a direct hit on the striker’s finish. Khatun could have survived had she put in a dive; she did not. At 25 for six, Bangladesh have been at risk of not lasting the overs. Nahida Akter and Moni helped Bangladesh huff and puff previous 50 earlier than they folded within the 18th over, with 5 of India’s bowlers ending among the many wickets.
Rodrigues helps India cruise residence
India’s chase wasn’t with out its personal preliminary hitches. Smriti Mandhana was out to Marufa Akter, misjudging the road of her supply as she lobbed a vanguard to level for 7. Then with the goal two blows away, Shafali Verma who appeared in a rush, particularly in attempting to muscle her method in opposition to spin, perished. Trying to get inside the road and pull, Shafali was crushed by the slowness of the floor because the ball saved a tad low and sneaked via her legs to crash into the stumps. Rodrigues treaded spin along with her patented contact recreation, utilizing the tempo of the bowlers to nudge and deflect deliveries into gaps to make a refined unbeaten 20 to see India residence in Ahuja’s firm with 70 balls to spare.
