India complete their 10-wicket thrashing to reach their ninth Women's Asia Cup final in nine editions at the Rangiri International Cricket Stadium in Dambulla.
India Women: Shafali Verma, Dayalan Hemalatha, S Sajana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Smriti Mandhana (c), Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Tanuja Kanwar, Renuka Thakur Singh, Arundhati Reddy, Uma Chetry, Asha Sobhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar.
Bangladesh Women: Dilara Akter, Murshida Khatun, Nigar Sultana (wk/c), Rumana Ahmed, Ishma Tanjim, Ritu Moni, Rabeya Khan, Shorna Akter, Jahanara Alam, Nahida Akter, Sabikun Nahar, Rubya Haider, Marufa Akter, Shorifa Khatun, Sultana Khatun.
India Predicted Playing XI: Richa Ghosh (wk), S Mandhana, JI Rodrigues, D Hemalatha, Shafali Verma, H Kaur (C), DB Sharma, S Sajana, P Vastrakar, Renuka Singh, Radha Yadav
Bangladesh Predicted Playing XI: Nigar Sultana (C), Dilara Akter, Murshida Khatun, Ritu Moni, Sobhana Mostary, Shorna Akter, Rumana Ahmed, Nahida Akter, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Sultana Khatun
We are down to four and in about ten hours time, we will be down to just two. Two crucial games, four hungry teams. It’s semi-finals time and we are 20 minutes away from the all-important toss on our knockout double header.
Bangladesh's skipper Nigar Sultana called it right at the toss and has opted to have a bat in Dambulla.
Explaining why the skipper chose to bat, she said: "We want to bat first. The wicket looks good. The ball was coming onto the bat nicely. They have been playing well. We need t work on our batting. We have one change."
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Dilara Akter, Murshida Khatun, Nigar Sultana(w/c), Rumana Ahmed, Ishma Tanjim, Ritu Moni, Rabeya Khan, Shorna Akter, Nahida Akter, Jahanara Alam, Marufa Akter
India (Playing XI): Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Uma Chetry, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Tanuja Kanwar, Renuka Thakur Singh
India have historically been super dominant with a whopping win percentage of over 85.
India - 19
Bangladesh - 3
Can they come out on top yet again? Or is there an unlikely victory on the cards at the Rangiri International in Central Province.
A bit of grass on the surface, and with the temperature, the cracks have also opened up. The spinners could have a big game. Overall, a great semi-final wicket as the looks of it. Should be a cracker.
The anthems are done, the players are ready, the pre-match rituals, done and dusted. It is show time!
It's six and it's out. India get their early breakthrough. Dilara Akter is disappointed as Harmanpreet's troop are elated. The Bangladesh opener tries to repeat the shot that got her a maximum in the previous ball, but Renuka has the last laugh. One down, Bangladesh.
Renuka has two, and India have two. Talk about using the conditions to your advantage. It's windy, swinging and Renuka is breathing fire. Excellent stuff, and this time it is Ishma Tanjim who has to make the long walk back.
The decision to bat first has gone terribly wrong for Bangladesh. A shocker of a powerplay to say the least. And in most T20I games, with three wickets in the first six, it feels like it is curtains. However, importantly for Bangladesh, they still have their skipper Sultana out there.
Bangladesh are looking for runs and solutions as India are continuing to tighten the grip and accumulate pressure. One-way traffic at the moment with BAN-W needing something special.
Nigar Sultana's side look in all sorts of trouble at the halfway stage of the semi-final having lost four crucial wickets with not much runs on the board. Can Bangladesh put something on the board for their bowlers to have a chance?
Bad goes worse for Bangladesh as the wickets continue to fall. Half the side back in the hut now, with just 43 runs on the board, and only seven overs remain. All India at the moment.
Nigar Sultana has been fighting a lone battle, with not much help from the rest of the batters. However, it looks like a cakewalk chase for India unless something extraordinary happens from here on.
And it is a double-wicket maiden to finish. The Indian bowlers have been exceptional throughout. Renuka started things off with the new ball picking up early wickets while Vastrakar, Kanwar and Deepti bowled economical spells, and Radha enjoying a great three-wicket outing.
India are underway, chasing 81 for a spot in the 2024 Women's T20 Asia Cup final with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana opening the batting.
India are off to a solid, steady start in their reply with both openers Smriti and Shafali hitting three and two boundaries each so far - seems like they are in a hurry.
India have almost run away with the game in very quick time with the opening duo scoring 58 in just eight overs. India just need 23 more runs to book a spot in the finals of the competition. Bangladesh have been blown away.
India have eased their way to a ninth Women's Asia Cup final, thanks to Renuka Singh's new ball heroics, followed up with Radha Yadav's brilliant spell of spin bowl. The openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma got the job done in just 11 overs.
"We couldn't get the ideal start what we wanted. Losing so many runs in the powerplay and not getting runs, it's pretty difficult to move on. It's a mental aspect. When they played against India, they played differently. We need to to work on our batting unit. Just because of that, we are losing so many games. The coaching staff will come up with a good plan. It's a good experience for us. Before World Cup, we'll try to rectify our mistakes."
"Our bowlers did a great job. Whatever we spoke in the team meeting, they did the same. Really proud of the way they are bowling. A lot of pressure on us because we have been dominating Asian cricket. For us, things are simple. We want to go out there and express. We prepare ourselves hard in the nets. (On the bowling unit) Every day, they are coming up with positive approaches. They are coming up nice ideas. They are giving me confidence. They are always there for the team."
"Very happy. It was an important match, pleased to perform well here. I focused on my basics. Whatever I prepared yesterday, I executed that. There was help with the strong breeze. I love to bowl with the new ball."
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