India kept their semifinal hopes alive in the Women's T20 World Cup by defeating Bangladesh by five wickets in Manchester on Thursday. Chasing 137, India reached 139 for 5 in 16.5 overs, powered by opener Shafali Verma's 34-ball 53.
Bangladesh Innings: Radha Yadav Shines
Opting to bowl first, India restricted Bangladesh to 136 for 8 in 20 overs, despite dropping four catches. Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav, returning to the side, was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 28 in four overs. Opener Juairiya Ferdous scored 33, and captain Nigar Sultana added 32, but Bangladesh struggled to accelerate.
India's Chase Led by Shafali Verma
India's chase was anchored by Shafali Verma, who smashed 53 off 34 balls, including several boundaries. The team completed the target with 3.1 overs to spare. Ritu Moni was the most successful Bangladesh bowler, taking 2 for 29 in four overs.
Fielding Concerns for India
India's fielding continued to be a concern, as they dropped four catches during the Bangladesh innings. Despite this, the bowlers maintained discipline, with Radha Yadav leading the attack. The win keeps India in contention for a semifinal spot in the tournament.
Brief Scores
Bangladesh: 136/8 in 20 overs (Juairiya Ferdous 33, Nigar Sultana 32; Radha Yadav 3/28). India: 139/5 in 16.5 overs (Shafali Verma 53; Ritu Moni 2/29).
