India defeated Bangladesh by 40 runs to reach finals
India marched into their sixth consecutive Women's T20 Asia Cup final following a decisive 40-run victory over Bangladesh in Dubai. Capitalizing on multiple dropped catches, Shafali Verma launched a blistering 64 off 40 balls, setting the foundation for a challenging total of 149 for 6. Despite a sluggish pitch and uncharacteristically sloppy fielding from both sides, Harmanpreet Kaur’s squad maintained their unbeaten tournament streak to secure a spot in the ultimate showdown. Historically, the Indian women's team has dominated this regional tournament, and this latest triumph highlights their continued supremacy in Asian cricket.
Capitalising on dropped chances
Batting first on a tricky, slow surface, Shafali took full advantage of early lifelines. Bangladesh fielders dropped her on four different occasions—when she was on 6, 11, 50, and 56. Riding this immense luck, the dynamic opener reached her half-century in just 35 deliveries. She punished the opposition by striking powerful blows, including back-to-back sixes off offspinner Sultana Khatun. Despite conceding those maximums, Khatun otherwise bowled exceptionally well to claim 2 for 30, removing dangerous opener Smriti Mandhana early in her spell.
While Shafali attacked freely, her batting partners found run-scoring far more difficult due to the slowing outfield. Pratika Rawal managed only 20 runs from 24 balls, struggling to rotate the strike effectively. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur also had to anchor the middle overs with a patient, unbeaten 24 off 28 deliveries. Late fireworks from wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, who smashed 21 off 16 balls, alongside Deepti Sharma, contributing a quickfire 13 from 6, pushed the team to a highly competitive total.
Spinners derail run chase
Facing a required run rate that quickly spiraled out of control, Bangladesh struggled heavily against a disciplined spin attack. Openers Juairiya Ferdous and Dilara Akter started steadily with early boundaries, but the scoring dried up entirely once the slow bowlers took charge. N Shree Charani bowled a crucial wicket maiden to close the powerplay, claiming her 50th T20I wicket and halting all generated momentum.
Deepti Sharma then completely broke the opponent's back, finishing her spell with remarkable figures of 3 for 26. She snapped a grinding 31-run partnership by bowling Sobhana Mostary, triggering a rapid batting collapse. Bangladesh shockingly lost three wickets for just 17 runs in a 15-ball span. Despite an unbeaten 22 from Shorna Akter and 21 from Dilara, they restricted the chasing side to a mere 109 for 7.
Victorious as they were, India displayed notable rustiness on the field. Fielders dropped several straightforward catches, including early reprieves for Dilara and Mostary. Smriti Mandhana misjudged a boundary chance, and two fielders narrowly avoided injury during a collision near square leg. Fixing these defensive lapses will be crucial before they compete for the championship trophy.
