India secured a commanding 108-run victory over Bangladesh in the second Women’s ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka, to level the series at 1-1. India, sent in to bat by Bangladesh, posted a challenging total of 228-8 in their 50 overs. In response, the hosts lost their last seven wickets for just 14 as India’s bowlers wrapped things up in just 35.1 overs.
The batting effort was led by the brilliant Jemimah Rodrigues, who showcased her class with a masterful knock of 86 off 78 deliveries. She found able support from Harmanpreet Kaur, who contributed a steady 52 off 88 balls. Together, they stitched a crucial partnership of 73 runs to anchor India’s innings.
However, it wan’t smooth sailing for India early on as they lost a wicket early in the form of Priya Punia. Smriti Mandhana’s 36 provided some stability, setting the platform for Jemimah and Harmanpreet to take charge. Harmanpreet’s innings came with a bit of a scare as she was forced to retire hurt after a blow to her arm, but she showed immense courage to return to the crease after the dismissal of Harleen Deol.
Chasing a target of 229, Bangladesh struggled to build partnerships and lost wickets at regular intervals. Jemimah, who had impressed with her batting, displayed her all-round abilities by dismantling Bangladesh’s middle-order with her off-spin bowling. The crucial wickets of Nigar Sultana and Nahida Akter in the 34th over dealt a severe blow to Bangladesh’s hopes.
The Bangladesh batters found it challenging to deal with India’s bowling attack, particularly Devika Vaidya, who accounted for the wicket of Sultana Khatun early in the innings. The pressure continued to mount on the hosts as wickets tumbled at a steady pace.
As the overs ticked by, India’s dominance became apparent. With wickets falling regularly, Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 120 in 35.1 overs. Marufa Akter was the last wicket to fall, caught sharply by Mandhana off the bowling of Sneh Rana to seal a comprehensive victory.
The player of the match was undoubtedly Jemimah, who played a pivotal role in both India’s batting and bowling efforts. Her all-round brilliance proved too much for Bangladesh to handle. With the series now level, both teams will look to bring their best performances in the decider on Saturday to claim victory in what has been an enthralling contest between India and Bangladesh.