India ended Bangladesh’s hopes of reaching the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals with a five-wicket victory at Old Trafford on Thursday, leaving their semi-final dream hanging by a thread. Chasing Bangladesh’s highest-ever World Cup total of 136, India rode on Shafali Verma’s half-century to secure a crucial win and stay firmly in the race for the last four.
Bangladesh had arrived at the match with a realistic chance of making the semi-finals for the first time in their history after registering two wins in the tournament, matching their total from the previous six editions combined. However, they needed victories against both India and South Africa to keep their hopes alive. While a slim mathematical possibility still remains, the defeat has effectively ended Bangladesh’s campaign.
India, meanwhile, had also been under pressure following their opening defeat to South Africa, but Thursday’s victory significantly strengthened their semi-final prospects.
India could have lost Shafali in the very first over of the chase. Marufa Akter found an edge off the fourth ball, but wicketkeeper Nigar Sultana Joty failed to hold on. Smriti Mandhana was also handed a reprieve in the third over when another edge off Marufa slipped through Joty’s gloves, while Yastika Bhatia survived after Rabeya Khan could not take a return catch.
Bangladesh paid heavily for those missed opportunities. Given a lifeline on four, Shafali went on to score 53 off 34 balls before being stumped off Nahida Akter. The Bangladeshi spinners briefly dragged the contest back, with India going 23 deliveries without a boundary in the middle overs. Ritu Moni picked up two wickets during that period, dismissing both Yastika and Jemimah Rodrigues, who made a quickfire 26 off 15 balls. But Jemimah’s innings had already put India firmly on course for victory.
Earlier, Bangladesh recovered from the early loss of opener Dilara Akter through a 51-run stand between Juairiya Ferdous and Sobhana Mostary. Juairiya struck 33 off 28 balls with five boundaries before offering a return catch to Nandani Sharma.
Sobhana added 22 before falling to Radha Yadav, who later dismissed captain Nigar Sultana Joty for 32 and Ritu Moni to finish with three wickets. Sharmin Supta retired out after making 10, while Swarna struck two boundaries in a late cameo but failed to build on her start. Bangladesh eventually posted 136, their highest total in Women’s T20 World Cup history, but it was not enough to deny India.
