Kuala Lumpur: Six-time defending champions India suffered a three-wicket defeat against Bangladesh in the final of the Women’s Asia Cup T20 cricket tournament at the Kinrara Academy Oval here, Sunday.
After India scored 112/9, thanks to Harmanpreet Kaur’s (56, 42b, 7×4) half century, Bangladesh managed to get over the line in the final ball of their innings.
Bangladesh were in control for the major part of the match. Even after Nigar Sultana’s (27, 24b, 4×4) departure reduced Bangladesh to 83/4, Rumana Ahmed (23, 22b, 1×4) did well to bring down the required runs to 13 off the last two overs.
In the penultimate over, Deepti Sharma gave away only four runs. In the first three deliveries of the final over, delivered by Harmanpreet, Bangladesh got six runs. Poonam Yadav (4/9) was outstanding with the ball for the losing side.
Harmanpreet made it a pulsating affair by removing Sanjida Islam and Rumana in the fourth and fifth deliveries. Bangladesh needed two runs from the last ball and Jahanara Alam scampered for the needed runs to seal Bangladesh’s first title.
Earlier Bangladesh reduced India to 32/4 in the first nine overs, including the wicket of Anuja Patil, who was declared out for obstructing the field.
Then the fifth-wicket stand between Harmanpreet and Veda Krishnamurthy (11) lasted for 30 runs before the latter’s dismissal. Harmanpreet then shared a 33-run stand with Jhulan Goswamy (10) after they were reduced to 74/7. The stand also helped the Indians to go past 100-run barrier.
Brief scores:
India 112/9 (Harmanpreet Kaur 56; Rumana Ahmed 2/22) lost to Bangladesh 113/7 (Nigar Sultana 27; Poonam Yadav 4/9) by three wickets.