BANGKOK: India beat Bangladesh by 46 runs to win the ACC Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars Series final at the Derthai Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing 135 runs, Bangladesh were restricted to 88 runs in 19.1 overs thanks to an exceptional bowling performance by the Indian attack.
Shamima Sultana scored 20 runs off 15 balls including 3 fours while captain Fahima Khatun added 14 runs off 11 balls with a four. The rest of the batsmen struggled to make significant contributions.
On behalf of India, Prema Rawat took 3 wickets for 12 runs in his 4 overs.
Sonia Mendia and Tanuja Kanwar took 2 wickets each while Saima Thakur, Minnu Mani and Radha Yadav took one wicket each.
Batting first, India got off to a steady start with a solid partnership between openers Nandini Kashyap and Dinesh Vrinda.
Vrinda scored 19 off 17 balls before being bowled by Fatema Jahan to put India at 30-1 in 5.1 overs.
Kashyap was soon run out by Shamima Sultana for 8 off 15 balls, while Minnu Mani was ducked by Farjana Easmin in the first ball.
Anushka Sharma scored 8 off 12 balls before Fahima Khatun was dismissed.
Tejal Hassapnis and skipper Radha Yadav steadied the innings and put together a crucial 69-run partnership to take India past 100.
In the end Yadav was dismissed for 36 off 30 balls with 3 fours and a six. Hassapnis scored an unbeaten innings of 51 off 34 balls, including 3 fours and 2 sixes, to guide India to a competitive score.
Fahima Khatun took 4/25 in four overs for Bangladesh, supported by Fatema Jahan and Farzana Easmin with a wicket each.