India clinch T20 series as Tigress squander golden chance

Bangladesh women's team lost last five wickets for just one run and inside eight balls to squander a golden opportunity to win the second T20 International against mighty India and level the series.

The sensational collapse left them nine runs short to win the game, as they were bowled out for 87 in 20 overs after restricting India for paltry 95-8 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday.

By virtue of this hard-fought victory, India took an unassailable 2-0 lead.

The visitors won the first match by seven wickets but Bangladesh came back strongly to raise the prospect of a victory.

Experienced Indian bowlers held the nerve to deny Bangladesh a victory despite Captain Nigar Sultana Joty looked firm to get the side through the torrid period.

However, Joty's dismissal as the sixth batter sparked the collapse as India pulled off a victory to clinch the series with a match to spare.

Joty was the only Bangladesh batter to reach double digit figure as she scored 38 off 55 with two boundaries.

Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma were the destroyer-in-chief, claiming three wickets apiece. The duo in fact too took last four wickets with Shafali taking her all three wickets in the last over when Bangladesh needed 10 runs to win the game.

Deepti in the penultimate over claimed the wicket of Joty to trigger the collapse.

Minnu Mani who scalped 2-9 and Deepti sliced Bangladesh top order, reducing them to 30-4 in the chase of a paltry target. Nigar then came to the crease and kept one end intact to give the side a glimpse of hope.

Deepti, however, struck again at right moment to turn the game, much to the despair of Bangladesh.

Earlier, electing to bat first, India faced the wrath of Sultana Khatun and were unable to go past 100. Khatun took 3-21 to rip through the mighty Indian batting line up. Shafali Verma made team-high 19 while Amanjot Kaur scored 14.

Source: BSS