India kept their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup hopes alive with a five-wicket win over Bangladesh at Old Trafford on 23 June, a result that also knocked Bangladesh out of the tournament. Shafali Verma made the difference with 53 from 34 balls as India reached 139-5 in 16.5 overs after Bangladesh had posted 136-8 in 20 overs.
The result mattered because India now head into their final group game against Australia on 28 June needing another win to go through. The chase was built around Verma’s tempo, while Jemimah Rodrigues added 26 from 15 balls, but it was not a clean evening for India. They lost Smriti Mandhana early and put Bangladesh down four times in the first five overs, a loose start that could have turned the match if Bangladesh had taken fuller advantage.
That waste was softened by the bowling. Radha Yadav took 3-28, while Ritu finished with 2-29 and Sree Charani took 2-21 to limit Bangladesh after Juairiya Ferdous had top-scored for them with 33 from 31 balls. Bangladesh never found the late surge they needed, and 136-8 proved short once Verma settled India’s reply.
India’s position is still simple enough: beat Australia on 28 June and the door stays open. Miss that chance, and the dropped catches, the early wicket and the narrow chase will read very differently.
