Asian Games 2023, Cricket: Pooja Vastrakar's four-fer helps India book final berth

Hangzhou: India Pacer Pooja Vastrakar’s four-wicket haul helped India to thrash Bangladesh by 8 wickets in the semifinal of the Asian Games 2023 women’s cricket tournament here on Sunday.

Bangladesh opted to bat first and were skittled out for a paltry 51 in 17.5 overs. India chased the total down the target in 8.2 overs to reach the final to be played on Monday.

This victory has assured India their maiden medal in the Asian Games cricket tournament as India did not send a team at 2010 and 2014 Asiads.

Bangladesh’s decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired. They had two setbacks in the very first over after Pooja Vastrakar dismissed both openers. The Indian women’s cricket team picked up two more wickets before the powerplay ended to reduce Bangladesh to 21/4 in six overs.

The Bangladesh women’s cricket team got into further trouble with two run-outs in the eighth over, which also saw skipper Nigar Sultana walk back to the dressing room. Vastrakar returned to bowl in the 13th over and picked up a wicket off the final ball of her spell, registering figures of 4/17 in four overs.

Bangladesh could only manage 51 runs in 17.5 overs, their lowest total against India in women’s T20 Internationals.

India did not sail smoothly in the run chase, with Smriti Mandhana departing in the fourth over for seven runs. The Bangladeshi spinners made good use of the conditions to create more chances but couldn’t capitalise.

Shafali Verma (17 off 21 balls) kept the scorecard ticking alongside Jemimah Rodrigues (20* off 15 balls). Fahima Khatun got the better of Shafali Verma as the Indian attempted to finish the game soon, but Jemimah Rodrigues took India over the line in the company of Kanika Ahuja.

The Indian women’s cricket team will face the winner of the second semi-final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the final on Monday.

India vs Bangladesh women’s cricket: Brief scores

Bangladesh Women 51 all out in 17.5 overs (Nigar Sultana 12, Pooja Vastrakar 4/17) lost to India Women 52/2 in 8.2 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 20*, Fahima Khatun 1/7). (UNI)