India sail into ninth successive Women’s Asia Cup final

Renuka Singh struck thrice inside power play to dent Bangladesh

Defending champions India sailed into their ninth successive final when they scored a facile ten-wicket win over Bangladesh in the first semi-final of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Renuka Singh and Radha Yadav picked up six wickets as they pegged Bangladesh to a score of 80-8 and then in-form openers Smriti Mandhana (55* off 39 balls, 9 fours, 1 six) and Shafali Verma (26* off 28 balls, 2 fours) got the job done for India with nine overs to spare.

Renuka coming into the match with her place under pressure delivered in the power play with three wickets in three overs to which Bangladesh had no answers. She upset Bangladesh’s plan of going on an all-out attack to pick up the Player of the Match award.

Scores: Bangladesh Women 80-8 (20) (Nigar Sultana 32, Renuka Singh 3/10, Radha Yadav 3/14)

India Women 83-0 (11) (Shafali Verma 26*, Smriti Mandhana 55*)