BSS
  11 Jul 2023, 18:11

India clinch T20 series as Tigress squander golden chance

DHAKA, July 11, 2023 (BSS)- Bangladesh women's team lost last five wickets

for just one run and inside eight balls to squander a golden opportunity to
win the second T20 International against mighty India and level the series.

The sensational collapse left them nine runs short to win the game, as they
were bowled out for 87 in 20 overs after restricting India for paltry 95-8 at
Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

By virtue of this hard-fought victory, India took an unassailable 2-0 lead.
The visitors won the first match by seven wickets but Bangladesh came back
strongly to raise the prospect of a victory.

Experienced Indian bowlers held the nerve to deny Bangladesh a victory
despite Captain Nigar Sultana Joty looked firm to get the side through the
torrid period.

However, Joty's dismissal as the sixth batter sparked the collapse as India
pulled off a victory to clinch the series with a match to spare.

Joty was the only Bangladesh batter to reach double digit figure as she
scored 38 off 55 with two boundaries.

Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma were the destroyer-in-chief, claiming three
wickets apiece. The duo in fact too took last four wickets with Shafali
taking her all three wickets in the last over when Bangladesh needed 10 runs
to win the game.

Deepti in the penultimate over claimed the wicket of Joty to trigger the
collapse.

Minnu Mani who scalped 2-9 and Deepti sliced Bangladesh top order, reducing
them to 30-4 in the chase of a paltry target. Nigar then came to the crease
and kept one end intact to give the side a glimpse of hope.

Deepti, however, struck again at right moment to turn the game, much to the
despair of Bangladesh.

Earlier, electing to bat first, India faced the wrath of Sultana Khatun and
were unable to go past 100. Khatun took 3-21 to rip through the mighty Indian
batting line up. Shafali Verma made team-high 19 while Amanjot Kaur scored
14.