India’s Shafali Verma Makes Bangladesh Pay for Costly Mistakes
India scored 149 runs for six wickets in the Women’s Asia Cup semi-final match. This happened against Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday. Bangladesh had won the toss and chose to field first.
Shafali Verma was the main scorer for India. She made 64 runs from just 40 balls. Her innings included seven fours and three sixes.
Bangladesh fielders missed three chances to dismiss Shafali. These errors allowed her to score many runs. The dropped catches proved costly for Bangladesh.
The first dropped catch happened in the second over. Fahima Khatun could not hold a difficult catch at long-on. This was off bowler Sultana Khatun.
Two overs later, Nahida Akter dropped another catch. She missed a low chance at mid-on. This was off bowler Marufa Akter. Shafali was also nearly run out earlier.
Shafali Verma finally got out in the 14th over. She scored 64 runs. Sultana Khatun took the catch. Substitute fielder Farjana Easmin completed it.
Before Shafali’s big innings, Smriti Mandhana was out early. She scored only two runs. Sultana Khatun took her wicket. Shafali then built a 50-run partnership with Pratika Rawal. This partnership was from 44 balls.
Pratika Rawal scored 20 runs from 24 balls. Rabeya Khan took her wicket in the 10th over. Dilara Akter completed the catch.
After Shafali left, other Indian players added important runs. Harmanpreet Kaur remained not out with 24 runs. She hit two sixes. Richa Ghosh scored 21 runs from 16 balls. She also hit two sixes.
Deepti Sharma gave a late boost to India’s score. She hit a six and a four. Deepti scored 13 runs from six balls. Marufa Akter took her wicket in the final over.
Marufa Akter took one wicket for Bangladesh. Sultana Khatun took two wickets. Nahida Akter and Rabeya Khan each took one wicket. India finished their innings at 149 for six wickets. Bangladesh now needs to score 150 runs to reach the final.
