India Women’s Cricket team beat BD by 7 wkts in 1st T20I

Sports Reporter :
India Women’s Cricket team beat Bangladesh Women’s Cricket team by seven wickets in their first Twenty20 International (T20I) match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Sunday.
Sent into bat first, Bangladesh scored a fighting total of 114 for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
In return, India reached the winning target making 118 for the loss of three wickets when they had 22 balls to spare.
Bangladesh Women’s Cricket team had a modest start with two openers Shathi Rani and Shamima Sultana put on together 27 runs in the opening stand before Shamima Sultana (17) was caught by Jemimah Rodrigues off Minnu Mani.
Shathi Rani and one-down Sobhana Mostary added together 25 runs for the second wicket partnership before Shathi Rani was bowled out by Pooja Vastrakar when the hosts total was 52 for the loss of two wickets.
Shathi Rani made 22 from 26 deliveries including four fours.
Second-down Nigar Sultana (2) could stay at the crease for a short time as she was run out by a joint-effort of Amanjot Kaur and wicketkeeper Yastika Vatia when the home side’s score was 57 for the loss of three wickets.
Sobhana Mostary and Shorna Akter contributed together 21 runs in the fourth wicket partnership before Sobhana Mostary was stumped out by Vastika Vatia off Shafali Varma when Bangladesh’s total was 78 for the loss of four wickets.
Sobhana Mostary hit 23. Her 33-ball innings had two fours.
After dismissal of Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter and Ritu Moni added together 33 runs before Ritu Moni was run out by a joint effort of Jemimah Rodrigues and Pooja Vastrakar when the Tigresses’ score was 111 for the loss of five wickets.
Shorna Akter remained unbeaten with 28. Her run-a-ball innings was belted with two sixes.
Pooja Vastrakar, Shafali Varma and Minnu Mani took one wicket each instead of 16, 18 and 21 runs respectively.
Marufa Akter gave her team early breakthrough as opener Shafali Varma (o) was trapped leg before wicket by Marufa when India could not open their account.
One-down Jemimah Rodrigues (11) was bowled out by Sultana Khatun when India’s score was 21 for the loss of two wickets.
Then, opener Smriti Mandhana and second-down Harmanpreet Kaur rescued their team from danger adding together 70 runs for the third wicket partnership before Mandhana was stumped out by Nigar Sultana off Sultana Khatun when the visitors’ total was 91 for the loss of three wickets.
Harmanpreet Kaur and Yastika Bhatia guided their team to anchor the winning spot scoring together 27 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket stand.
Harmanpreet Kaur remained unbeaten with 54. Her 35-ball innings was studded with six fours and two sixes. Harmanpreet was adjudged the Player of the Match.
Sultana Khatun bagged a pair of wickets in the space of 25 runs, while Marufa Akter got one wicket giving 18 runs.