Dominant India crush Bangladesh to storm into Women’s Asia Cup final with ease

Quick Scores: India (149/6 in 20 overs) beat Bangladesh (109/7 in 20 overs) by 40 runs in Dubai in the semi-final match of the Women’s Asian Cup.

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India continued their dominant run in the Women’s Asia Cup, storming into the final with a commanding 40-run win over Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side posted 149 for 6, with Shafali Verma’s explosive 64 laying the foundations for an Indian attack that restricted Bangladesh to 109 for 7.

India have now reached the final in every edition of the tournament, their tenth appearance in the title race. They also extended their dominance over Bangladesh and registered their ninth consecutive T20I win against them in women’s cricket.

India will now await the winner of Friday’s second semi-final between Pakistan’s Fatima Sana and Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththa.

Shafali provided the impetus for India’s total, although Bangladesh’s commitment repeatedly gave her reprieve. The opener was dropped three times before being eventually dismissed, but her aggressive approach helped India post a competitive total despite slowing down in the middle overs.

SHAFALI SURVIVES THREE DROP TO POWER INDIA

Bangladesh had an early chance to dismiss Shafali in the first over. Sultana Khatun found a boundary with the aggressiveness of the opener, but Fahima Khatun failed to keep a tough chance at long-on with Shafali at six.

Sultana struck later in the over, dismissing Smriti Mandhan for just two off five balls. However, Bangladesh kept letting Shafali off the hook, making life difficult for themselves.

The second postponement came in Marufa Akter’s second match. Shafali got a chance towards the halfway mark in the 11th minute but Shorna Akter couldn’t hold on. Shafali responded immediately and Sultan managed to get back-to-back sixes in the third over.

India reached 45 for 1 in the over, with Pratika Rawal providing valuable support. Rawal hit Rabeya Khan for six and combined with Shafalim for a 50-run partnership off 45 balls before falling for 20 off 24 deliveries, with Rabeya providing the breakthrough.

India were 59 for 2 after 10 overs but Shafali shifted gears soon. Marufu hit four consecutive fours and brought up her half-century in just 35 balls.

Bangladesh’s fielding woes reappeared in the 14th over. Shafali pitched badly towards deep mid-wicket, where the fielder tried to take a reverse-cup catch but couldn’t hold on. The ball appeared to hit her chin and chest before running away for four, giving Shafali another reprieve on 56.

Sultana finally got her revenge. After hitting the next four, Shafali tried to advance but could not get enough height. Farjana Easmin completed the catch to end a brilliant innings of 64 off 40 balls, including seven fours and three sixes.

RICHA, DEEP ADD LATE MOMENTUM

India still needed a strong finish and Richa Ghosh provided the acceleration. She too got a reprieve when Fahima dropped her from Rabeya, but Richa was made to pay by Bangladesh.

The wicketkeeper attacked the spinners and hit two sixes during her 21 off 16 balls. Her partnership with Harmanpreet gave India the impetus it needed after Shafali’s departure.

However, Harmanpreet found it difficult to score runs for most of her innings. The India captain was on a six off 18 balls before he finally broke free and dropped Fahima over the bowler’s head for a six. She finished with 24 off 28 balls and two sixes.

Richa’s counter attack ended in the 19th over when she was stumped by Nahida Akter after going down the track. Nahida was among Bangladesh’s best performers with the ball, finishing with 1 for 25 from four overs, while Rabeya took 1 for 22.

Still, India found another momentum in the end. Deepti Sharma attacked Marufu in the final over, hitting a four and a six before falling for 13 off six balls. Bharti Fulmalia runs out the last delivery as India close at 149 for 6.

Shafali provided most of the fireworks but Richa, Harmanpreet and Deepti gave India a total that could put Bangladesh under pressure on the slow Dubai surface.

CHARANI HAS HISTORY AS INDIA SQUEEZES BANGLADESH

Bangladesh’s chase began with another loose for Dilara Akter. In the first over, Dilar cut Kranti Gaud towards cover where Pratika Rawal got both hands to the ball but didn’t hold on.

The postponement did not change the nature of the power play much. India made Dilara and Juairiya Ferdous work hard on their run, repeatedly forcing them to create scoring opportunities instead of allowing easy boundaries.

The key breakthrough came from Shree Charani in the sixth over. Charani entered the match on 49 T20I wickets and needed just one more to create history. She delivered exactly when India needed it.

Juairiya tried to run in, but the ball hit his head. Richa Ghosh called the catch, moved forward and completed it safely. Juairiya departed for 14 off 18 balls, giving Charani his 50th T20I wicket in just 29 matches.

This made Charani the fastest Indian to reach the milestone, surpassing Kuldeep Yadav’s previous record of 30 matches. She then completed a wicket-maiden underscoring check that has made her one of India’s most important T20I bowlers.

Dilara briefly offered Bangladesh some hope in the seventh over, breaking an extended spell of no boundaries by hitting Prema Rawat over extra cover. But Deepti Sharma struck early and dismissed Dilara for 21 off 26 balls.

Deepti continued to dictate terms. She removed Sobhana Mostary for 18 and later bowled Sharmin Akhter for one, finishing with excellent figures of 3 for 26 from four overs.

INDIA SPINNERS LEAVE BANGLADESH WITH NO WAY BACK

Bangladesh were only 46 for 2 after 10 overs, needing 104 runs from the last 60 balls. The required rate had already climbed to 10.4 and over, and the Indian spinners were making it difficult for the batsmen to find boundaries.

Nigar Sultana tried to change the tempo with a six off Deepti, but Rawat removed the Bangladesh skipper for 19 off 17 balls. Mostary also struggled to find fluency before Deepti knocked her off stump.

However, India’s commitment was not flawless. While Bangladesh’s repeated dropped catches were the main feature of the first innings, India also converted three chances. Rawal was responsible for two while Richa also spilled one behind the stumps.

There was further drama in the 18th over when Richa and Nandani Sharma collided while chasing Shorna Akter’s top edge off Shafali Verma. Both the two Indian fielders went after the ball and collided with Richa sustaining a neck and head injury. A medical examination followed, but both players were allowed to continue.

Shorna was one of the few Bangladeshi batsmen to provide late resistance. She hit Shafali for a six and later added a four off Charani to finish with a spirited 21 off 15 balls. Fahima Khatun also contributed 14 from 14 before falling in the final over.

But the required rate became far beyond Bangladesh’s reach. India’s slow bowlers kept the batting tied while the wickets ensured there was no sustained partnership to threaten the target.

The result was another statement of India’s dominance in the tournament and extended their remarkable record of reaching the Women’s Asia Cup final every time they have competed.

With their batting providing enough runs and the spinners taking control again, India are now one win away from another Asia Cup title.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

10 Sep 2026 23:24 IST