India vs Bangladesh highlights Women’s Asia Cup Semi Final 2024: IND reach 9th final; Mandhana, Shafali complete 10-wicket thrashing

"I am very happy. It was a big match for us and to do well is a good feeling. The idea is to work on the basics. I executed what we prepared yesterday. Got a lot of help from the wind blowing across. I like bowling with the new ball and got to bowl my spell early. I was happy with all my wickets because you get rewarded for your work."

"Our bowlers did a great job. Did what we spoke in the team meetings. Proud of our bowling. A lot of pressure on us, because we have been dominating Asian cricket. We want to keep doing what we are doing for a long time. We prepare ourselves very hard in nets, so that when we go out there, we don't feel pressure. Everyday, the bowlers are coming up with positive approach. They are hitting the right lines and lengths, and they give me confidence."

Nahida returns. In the slot and Mandhana bisects the deep square-leg and mid-wicket with a flawless slog-sweep for FOUR.  FIFTY for Mandhana as she pumps the ball for another FOUR. Mandhana finishes it off with another boundary. Makes room to squeeze the ball past the mid-off fielder for another FOUR. India complete a 10-wicket mauling of Bangladesh to reach their ninth Asia Cup final.

Rumana Ahmed into the attack

Mandhana and Shafali tread on singles. Four in a row before Shafali attempts a fancy reverse-sweep as the ball nearly trickles onto the stumps. Five from the over.

Rabeya attacks the middle-stump but Mandhana nimbly makes room to carve the ball through extra cover for FOUR. A single follows as India romp towards the target. In the air and dropped! Shafali slogs the ball to long-off and Nahida drops an absolute sitter. Her captain is distraught as she cries, "Come on, yaar."

Fifty up for India with a single from Mandhana. Shafali drills the ball down the ground for another single. Jahanara drops short again and Mandhana swivels elegantly for a firm pull through mid-wicket for FOUR. In the air and taken, but it's a no-ball! Misery for Bangladesh. Jahanara induces a rare, loose stroke from Mandhana straight to the point fielder but she has overstepped by a fair yard. 

Rabeya Khan into the attack

Fuller delivery outside the off-stump and Mandhana drives to cover no run.  A slew of singles to follow. India are in no rush as they have already motored past the halfway mark in this chase.

Jahanara constricts Mandhana this time with a straighter line of attack. A single to follow. Jahanara slides the ball onto the pads and Shafali misses out on a flick across the line. Only the one run from the over.

Nahida continues. Shafali works the ball comfortably across the line for a single. A loosener onto the pads and Mandhana swiftly sweeps the ball through square-leg for FOUR. Nahida tosses the ball up outside off-stump and Mandhana lofts the ball effortlessly down the ground for FOUR. A bit of a mix-up between the batters and Nahida misses a run-out chance at her end. Mandhana was struggling with the run there after flicking the ball across.

Jahanara Alam into the attack

Short delivery outside off, Mandhana drags it to the mid-on fielder. Jahanara continues to keep the ball short even when there's neglibile bounce on offer. A hint of room but Mandhana fails to get the ball past a packed off-side ring. Textbook pull from Mandhana. Perhaps the timing was a tad off but Mandhana briskly transfers weight to the backfoot with the swivel and pumps Jahanara over the square-leg fielder for SIX!

Marufa cuts the ball across from length and Mandhana hangs back and slices the ball off the backfoot behind point for FOUR, easy. A single to follow. Slower ball on length and Shafali slog-sweeps the delivery from outside off-stump for another FOUR. 

Nahida Akter into the attack

Akter loops the ball down leg and Shafali sweeps the ball behind square for FOUR. A string of singles to follow as Mandhana and Shafali move along gently. Low full-toss and Shafali drags it to deep mid-wicket for one run.

Marufa Akter is up with the new ball. Shafali takes strike with a slip in place.

A hint of movement as Shafali taps the first ball towards point. Marufa swerves the ball inwards as Shafali guides it behind to short fine leg. A single to follow. Marufa comes around the stumps and overpitches. Mandhana opens her account with a gorgeous drive past mid-off for FOUR.

Nigar and Co. huddle up for a chat before taking the field. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma walk out for the chase.

Radha to Nigar, OUT! Straight to long-on. A slot ball there to be it but Nigar fails to connect the ball over the fence, losing power while advancing down the strip. The captain did try her best in ensuring that her side will play out the full 20 overs. Nahida Akter is in at 9. Radha to Nahida, OUT! Dragged on. Fuller ball outside off-stump and Nahida drags it straight back to the wicket with her attempted slog. Endless misery here for Bangladesh. Marufa is the new batter. Radha darts in a delivery in the blockhole, dot ball. A double-wicket maiden to finish the innings. Shorna does not find strike in the final over and Bangladesh finish on 80/8 in 20 overs.

Nigar Sultana c Sharma b Yadav 32 (51b 2x4

Vastrakar is back. Short ball and Shorna thwacks the ball straight over mid-on for FOUR.  A single to follow. Vastrakar follows up with a massive no ball as her back-of-the-hand slower ball falls flat outside the pitch. Nigar lifts the free-hit delivery over Shafali point and there's another FOUR. Nigar charges to slap the last ball through cover for a single. 20 to get off the final to reach three figures.

Shorna and Nigar reel in a string of ones and twos. Deepti maintains a tight line around the stumps as the batters find six runs from the over.

Radha returns. Shorna steps out with a rash slog and the thick outside-edge zips past Richa for FOUR. Shorna pumps the ball down the ground and the ball falls just short of the long-on fielder. Nigar deftly taps the last delivery towards cover and sneaks in the single.

Bangladesh finally cross the 50-run mark in the 16th over as Nigar drags Deepti down to deep mid-wicket for two runs. Can the skipper find a clump of boundaries from here?

Nigar is short on options as she attempts to shepherd the strike while finding the runs. She slices a loopy delivery through and reels in two runs. Five from the over.

Deepti to Ritu, OUT! A lovely flighted delivery outside off-stump and Ritu plays around it. Richa is quick with the gloves and the bails go off in a flash. And there goes the sixth wicket.

Ritu Moni st Ghosh b Sharma 5 (6b)

Nigar continues to hold one end as the support at the other continues to dwindle with each passing over. Tanuja skims through another quiet over as Bangladesh struggle to find the boundaries.

Vastrakar rushes Rabeya with a couple of pacy deliveries towards the stumps. Vastrakar to Rabeya, OUT! The early pressure works. Rabeya is almost rendered powerless as he attempts to pull a short ball across the line, sending it off the edge to the mid-on fielder.

Rabeya Khan c Shafali Verma b Vastrakar 1 (7b)

Radha Yadav into the attack

Radha to Rumana, OUT! Knocked her over first ball. Radha starts off with a brilliant delivery. Nicely tossed up on a middle-and-leg line and the ball scuttles through Rumana's defences after pitching. India well and truly on top now.

Rumana Ahmed b Yadav 1 (11b)

Renuka Singh Thakur unbroken 4-over spell today went like this…

First 3 legal deliveries bowled: 7 runs conceded
Next 21 deliveries: 3 runs conceded, 3 wickets taken

Finishes with a maiden, and figures of 4-1-10-3. Quite remarkable.

Vastrakar replaces Renuka. Loose delivery on length and Nigar pulls it fiercely through the square. Deepti gives an admirable chase and stops a boundary. Beaten! Vastrakar lures Nigar into a loose drive away from the body outside the off-stump and nearly finds the edge. 

Deepti Sharma into the attack. Rumana and Nigar drop anchor and pluck the occasional single to keep the scoreboard marginally alive and ticking. Three singles from the over.

Renuka on her way to bowl out. Bangladesh cannot buy a run at the moment. Renuka wraps Rumana in a streak of dots, attacking the stumps mercilessly. Rumana attempts to nudge through the gap but finds the point fielder. Maiden. Renuka finishes with figures of 4-1-10-3!

Tanuja offers a loopy delivery on the full and Nigar sweeps it fine behind square for FOUR. Tanuja corrects her lines and pins down the Bangladesh captain with five dots on the trot again. 

Renuka to Murshida, DROPPED! Sharp chance for Deepti at first-slip as the ball zips off Murshida's outside-edge and bursts through her palms. Renuka did well to find the outside-edge there with the angle shaping across the turf. Nigar finally opens her account with a single. Renuka to Murshida, OUT! Poor dismissal. Murshida drags a loose short delivery straight to the short mid-wicket fielder. Bangladesh find themselves in a massive rut now as the in-form batter departs. Rumana Ahmed is in at 5.

Murshida Khatun c Shafali Verma b Renuka Singh 4 (9b 

Renuka Singh Thakur, at her best, gives India early breakthroughs. It’s an aspect that had deserted her in recent times but she is in the zone today. Got hit for an early six but otherwise has bowled really good lines and lengths, sticking to that 4th stump channel, no freebies. And the reward is two early wickets. India bossing this early. Get Nigar Sultana out now and Bangladesh will be in massive trouble. - Vinayakk Mohanarangan

Tanuja replaces Vastrakar

A couple of loopy deliveries outside offand Tanuja slyly tosses the ball in and finds the inside-edge from Nigar. Five dots on the trot as Nigar fails to open her account against Tanuja's sharp lines of attack.

Renuka continues. She attempts to extract some inward movement as she goes wide of the crease to slant the ball in to Ishma. Beaten. Renuka straightens her line outside off-stump and beats Ishma's outside-edge as she pushes forward. Renuka to Ishma, OUT! Taken at backward point. A string of dots induces a streaky stroke. Ishma has a go with a tepid swipe and the ball balloons off the outside-edge to Tanuja Kanwar.

Ishma Tanjim c Kanwar b Renuka Singh 8 (10b 2x4)

Pooja Vastrakar from the opposite end

Short delivery from Vastrakar and Murshida steers it to deep square-leg for a single. India have enforced a strong close-in field and Vastrakar tails the ball into Ishma who clips it towards short mid-wicket. Another short delivery and Ishma pulls it with flair over square-leg for FOUR. Vastrakar offers some room as Ishma taps the ball off the backfoot through covers but finds the fielder. Close! Inside-edge off the blade and Ishma gets a streaky FOUR as the ball lobs past Richa to the fence. 

Renuka Thakur to open proceedings. Dilara on strike with Murshida Khatun at the non-striker's. Wicket-keeper Richa Ghosh stands up to the stumps with Deepti Sharma at first slip. 

A fuller delivery to start and Dilara digs it out. Renuka slants the ball down leg a touch too much and concedes a wide. Shorter delivery and Dilara taps it towards mid-on. The lack of bounce will be of interst here. Renuka angles the ball in and Dilara nonchalantly flicks it over mid-wicket for SIX! Renuka to Dilara, OUT! IN THE AIR and taken! Dilara has another swing across the line but finds the deep mid-wicket fielder this time. The intention was on point there but she fails to get the desired timing on the slog as Harmanpreet moves the fielder a little squarer before the delivery. Ishma Tanjim is in at 3.

Dilara Akter c Chetry b Renuka Singh 6 (4b 1x6)

Indian players are in the huddle. Bangladesh openers Dilara Akter and Murshida Khatun are taking guards. For India, Renuka Singh will start the proceedings. Here we go!

Time for national anthems. We will start with India and then follow with Bangladesh. 

The ‘Greatest Rivalry’ is now a familiar refrain from Indian cricket broadcasters when it comes to building up a match against Pakistan. Often though, the action on the field doesn’t live up to the hype. It was one of those occasions on Friday in Dambulla, as Harmanpreet Kaur’s India breezed to a comfortable 7-wicket win against their neighbours to kick off their Women’s Asia Cup title defence. (READ MORE)

A very interesting XI from India for the semifinal. Presuming every one is fit and available (Harmanpreet Kaur just said ‘we have a few changes, you can see in the team list’) India have left out D Hemalatha. Hemalatha opened the batting in the last match, scored 47 but off 42 balls. Did that play a role? Harman returns of course, but Uma Chetry also gets a game in a surprise call. Another experiment at No 3 or will we see Jemimah there today? Quite a few questions. - Vinayakk Mohanarangan

We are back on pitch number four. This is where the batters enjoyed themselves. Lots of runs scored here. Weather - it's hot. There's a little bit grass, greenness about this surface. It's an even surface - no wear and tear.

Bangladesh Women XI: Dilara Akter, Murshida Khatun, Nigar Sultana(w/c), Rumana Ahmed, Ishma Tanjim, Ritu Moni, Rabeya Khan, Shorna Akter, Nahida Akter, Jahanara Alam, Marufa Akter

India Women XI: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Uma Chetry, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Radha Yadav, Tanuja Kanwar, Renuka Thakur Singh

TOSS: Bangladesh win the toss, opt to bat

Nigar Sultana: We want to bat first. The wicket looks good. The ball was coming onto the bat nicely. They have been playing well. We need t work on our batting. We have one change.

Harmanpreet Kaur: We have played good cricket so far. Today also we want to back ourselves. They are a good side. For us, we need to focus on what we've been doing. We have a few changes.

Most runs for India in Women's Asia Cup 2024: Shafali Verma - 158 runs in 3 innings, Average: 52.66

Most runs for Bangladesh in Women's Asia Cup 2024: Murshida Khatun - 130 runs in 2 innings, Average: 65.00

Most wickets for India in Women's Asia Cup 2024: Deepti Sharma - 8 wickets in 3 innings, Aveagr: 7.00

Most wickets for Bangladesh in Women's Asia Cup 2024: Nahida Akter (5 in 3 innings) and Rabeya Khan (5 in 3 innings)

India will undoubtedly be the hot favourites after having routed Bangladesh 5-0 in their bilateral T20I series in late April-May this year. 

Bangladesh Women Squad: Dilara Akter, Murshida Khatun, Nigar Sultana(w/c), Rumana Ahmed, Ishma Tanjim, Ritu Moni, Rabeya Khan, Shorna Akter, Jahanara Alam, Nahida Akter, Sabikun Nahar, Rubya Haider, Marufa Akter, Shorifa Khatun, Sultana Khatun.

India Women Squad: Shafali Verma, Dayalan Hemalatha, S Sajana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh(w), Smriti Mandhana(c), Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Tanuja Kanwar, Renuka Thakur Singh, Arundhati Reddy, Uma Chetry, Asha Sobhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar.

Will the defending champions march to yet another final? India have made it to the summit clash of the last eight Women's Asia Cup finals. Harmanpreet Kaur's side are poised to continue the streak, but will not take Nigar Sultana's Bangladesh side lightly. They have beaten the seven-time champions in a T20I last year and also recorded a win in the final of the 2018 tournament edition. Is there a surprise in store in Dambulla this afternoon?