India women’s team progressed on Yastika Bhatia’s much needed fifty and Sneh Rana’s bowling epic assisted India recover from a mini-downfall and thrash Bangladesh by 110 runs in their must-win league match in Hamilton to let in competition in the mix of the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup on Tuesday.
Upholding the 230-run total, the spinners, led by Rana (4/30), managed the proceedings as they bashed at regular intervals. India bowled out Bangladesh for 119 in 40.3 overs to book their third victory of the tourney.
The Mithali Raj-led squad will compete South Africa in the final league game on Sunday. Prior that match, if the second-placed Proteas defeat West Indies on Thursday, India’s semi-final possibilities will get better.
India’s decision to introduce senior spinner Poonam Yadav (1/25) in place of pacer Meghna Singh were very helpful. With spinners functioning, Bangladesh found it difficult.
Earlier in the day, Yastika Bhatia’s 3rd ODI fifty motivated India to a score of 229/7 in 50 overs. It was the 2nd consecutive fifty for her, who again batted at No. 3 for India.
Choosing to bat, Smriti Mandhana (30) and Shafali Verma (42) partnered 74 runs for the opening wicket however India suffered a mini-downfall, losing both the openers in quickly.
Skipper Mithali Raj (0) was also sent back after a first-ball duck as India flumped to 74 for 3 in 15.3 overs.
Vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur (14) was also run out. Bhatia (50 off 80) and Richa Ghosh (26) then summed 54 runs to take India across the 150-run score before the she was sent off.
Following completing her fifty, Bhatia too went off whilst trying for a paddle scoop. Pooja Vastrakar (30) and Sneh Rana (27) then further added 48 off 38 balls to take India beyond the 200-run mark.
