India women cricket team has entered the final of the Asian Games after a comprehensive win over rivals Bangladesh in what was a one-sided semifinal played at the Pingfeng Campus Cricket Field in Hangzhou (China) on Sunday morning.
After bundling out Bangladesh for 51 in 17.5 overs, India chased down the small total in 8.2 over for an eight-wicket win to secure a medal and will clash for gold on Monday now.
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Under hazy, overcast sky, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana won the toss and opted to bat first. She would have started to regret her decision soon with Pooja Vastrakar leaving them in deep trouble with three wickets in her three overs of Powerplay.
Vastrakar began causing damage with the first delivery itself when a lazy attempt from opener Shahti Rani resulted in an edge and wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh took an easy catch to kickstart the procession.
Vastrakar then trapped Shamima Sultana LBW for a golden duck as well in the same over leaving Bangladesh 1/2.
A brief recovery followed which was nipped in the bud by Vastrakar with the scalp of Shobana Mostary who was given a life by Smriti Mandhana on 6 but she could only add two more before holing out to the India skipper.
Bangladesh failed to recover from that despite India dropping as many as three catches – two of them absolute sitters.
It was Nigar Sultana who managed to touch double-digit score, making 12 off 17 while no other batter crossed 9. As many as five batters departed without troubling the scorers.
Vastrakar finished with career-best figures of 4/17.
In their chase, India lost Mandhana cheaply on 7 in the fourth over and when her opening partners Shafali Varma exited on 17, India needed just 12 more to win.
A boundary followed by a single from the bat of Jemimah Rodrigues (20 not out) completed the formality. India entered the semis after their quarterfinal clash against Malaysia was washed out by rain.
Brief Scores: India 52/2 in 8.2 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 20*; Fahima Khatun 1/7) beat Bangladesh 52-all out in 17.5 overs (Nigar Sultana 12; Pooja Vastrakar 4/17) by eight wickets
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