In a gripping showdown at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh’s Nigar Sultana Joty showcased her prowess with a remarkable T20I fifty, her sixth in the format. However, her valiant effort couldn’t steer the Tigresses to victory as they succumbed to a 45-run defeat against India in the opening match of the five-game series.
Despite Joty’s resilient 51 off 48 deliveries, embellished with five boundaries and a six, Bangladesh faltered in their pursuit of India’s 146-run target, managing only 101 for eight.
The Tigresses struggled to break free from their batting woes, with only two other batters reaching double figures, leaving Joty’s innings as the lone beacon of hope.
In the first innings, India set a competitive total of 145 for seven, fueled by notable contributions from Yastika Bhatia, Shafali Verma, and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. Leg-spinner Rabeya Khan emerged as Bangladesh’s standout bowler, claiming three crucial wickets for 23 runs.
India’s pace duo of Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar wreaked havoc on the hosts’ batting lineup, sharing five wickets between them to secure a convincing victory. Despite Bangladesh’s efforts, they failed to gain momentum in the chase, ultimately conceding the opener to India.
