Tigresses’ semifinal hopes extinguished after five-wicket loss to India

Bangladesh women’s side fell to a five-wicket loss to India in the Group 1 fixture at Old Trafford in Manchester on Thursday to see their T20I World Cup semifinal hopes extinguished.

Bangladesh batters were handed reprieves early in the innings but could not capitalise on India’s missed chances after opting to bat. The Tigresses lost Dilara Akter early before Juairiya Ferdous was dropped three times in the Powerplay alone.

Sobhana Mostary too was dropped inside the Powerplay as India produced four dropped chances in the Powerplay. Juairiya found a few clean hits when she opted to take her chances and scored a team-high 33 off 31 deliveries, laced with five fours, and, along with Mostary, stitched together a 51-run stand for the third wicket.

Juairiya was holed out at long-on in the ninth over but, despite a platform with the score on 59 for two in the ninth over, the Bangladesh middle order produced little impact. Mostary departed for 22 off 26 while skipper Nigar Sultana Joty produced a 26-ball 32.

Meanwhile, Sharmin Supta was retired hurt in the 18th over as part of the team management’s plan after a slow 12-ball 10. Shorna Akter, the Tigresses’ best power-hitter, came in during the 17th over and struck 13 off 10 as Bangladesh managed 136 for eight.

India, after their fumbles on the field, made up for the mistakes with a brilliant Powerplay effort, notching 63 for one. While Smriti Mandhana fell early to Marufa Akter, Shefali Verma took the Bangladesh attack to the cleaners during a 34-ball 53.

India’s batters struggled to finish the chase in style, losing wickets in the middle overs, but Bangladesh too missed chances on the field to make India’s task easier.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (13) and Deepti Sharma (five) finished off proceedings, with the latter hitting the winning runs to complete the chase in 16.5 overs.

Bangladesh, with four points, fall out of the last-four equation but have one remaining match against South Africa, who are still in the hunt and currently third in the standings with four points from three games.

The top two sides from the group will make the semifinals, with Australia having already assured their semifinal berth after picking up eight points from four matches.