Match Center

Right then, that is all we have from this India Women’s tour of Bangladesh. India won the T20I series but the ODI series has been tied. Both teams have got some big positives from this series. It was an entertaining series and an honour to bring the coverage of it for all of you. Till next time, cheers!

Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian skipper is down for a chat now. She says that it was a lot of learning and adds that she is not happy with the umpiring and they will be ready for the umpiring next time they come to Bangladesh. Adds that Bangladesh batted well and took crucial singles and their bowlers leaked some runs but mentions again that umpiring was pathetic. Credits Harleen Deol and Jemimah Rodrigues for the way they batted and added that they kept India in the game. Signs off by applauding the crowd for supporting both teams.

Nigar Sultana, the skipper of Bangladesh Women is in for a chat. She starts by saying that it was a really good match and the players are gaining a lot of experience from it. Mentions that the aim was to put 230 runs on the board and is delighted with the way Fargana Hoque batted in the game. Adds that after the break they tried to go hard on the opposition. Praises the bowlers for the excellent outing. Informs that they are looking for the momentum for the future and the intent that the girls have shown here, they have plenty to take along with them.

Fargana Hoque is the PLAYER OF THE SERIES! She mentions that she believes in the process and the team management supports her. She adds that she is happy with her performance and mentions that she felt that either she or skipper, Nigar Sultana will become the first batter to score a hundred in Bangladesh Women's cricket and she is happy to achieve the landmark.

Harleen Deol is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH! She starts by saying that it was a good wicket to bat. Mentions they were struggling earlier, as they were unaware of the conditions. States that they were comfortably ahead in the game, but lost wickets in cluster. Adds that whenever you have runs under your belt it acts as a confidence booster and hopes to continue with the same momentum.

Time for the Presentation...

India Women, well, they are expected to play better than they did in this game and whole tour as well. They could not get enough wickets in the second half and had a competitive total in front of them going into the second half. However, with a depth in their batting they were expected to chase this down. They looked like doing so multiple times too. firstly when Smriti Mandhana and Harleen Deol were going great guns and scored their respective fifties. Secondly, when Jemimah Rodrigues and Amanjot Kaur were looking assure wth India needing just 10 runs. However, they choked badly in the end with two run outs and some poor application from capable batters and paid the price in the end. Jemimah Rodrigues also batted well again and was stranded at the non-striker's end when the last batter Meghna Singh got out with scores levelled.

Talking about the match, it was Bangladesh Women who won the toss and decided to bat first. Fargana Hoque was promoted up the order to open the innings and it worked wonders for them. She became the first batter from the Bangladesh Women's team to score an ODI century and powered her team to a competitive total. On the bowling front, they got two early wickets but the partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Harleen Deol threatened to take the game away from them. Fahima Khatun though got the big wicket of Mandhana when India were 139-2 and then some brilliant fielding and bizarre running from India brought Bangladesh back in the game. Still, India needed just 10 runs with four wickets in hand, but Nahida Akter's brilliant two-wicket 48th over brought the pressure back on India and Marufa Akter took the final wicket to end the game in a dramatic fashion.

IT'S A TIE! How often we have seen that in ODI cricket! Unbelievable scenes here in the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium and it just doesn't get better than this. Bangladesh players are absolutely elated and rightly so, they have pulled off this tie from the jaws of defeat against a formidable Indian unit and with this, the series is tied at 1-1 as well. We have witnessed a cracking game and India looked ahead in the chase for majority of the second half but somehow, yes somehow, Bangladesh managed to stay in the game and have bowled out India for 225. This could well turn out to be a watershed moment in Bangladesh women's cricket as it is the first time they have tied an ODI series against India.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! OH MY WORD! IT IS A TIE! Marufa Akter with a peach of delivery to get rid of Meghna Singh, and make sure that India does not walk home with the series. It is a length ball, outside off. Meghna Singh tries to chase it but only manages to get a nick on it. Nigar Sultana takes a solid catch. The appeal is made for caught behind and the umpire raises his finger quite belatedly.

SCORES LEVEL! It is a length ball, angled into the pads. Jemimah Rodrigues flicks it in front of long on and makes it to the other end.

Good length, around off. Singh taps it to point and scampers across for a quick single.

Flights it up, on off. Singh throws the kitchen sink at it. The ball goes over mid on off the outside edge. It lands safely and they cross for one. 3 runs needed now in the final over. Bangladesh Women though need a wicket to win the match. Anything can happen!

FOUR! A much-needed boundary. It comes from Meghna Singh. What a moment. India Women now a hit away from victory. It is full and on off. Meghna Singh gets low and sweeps it to wide of long on. The ball has enough legs to reach the fence here.

Tossed up, outside off. The ball grips and turns in sharply. Meghna Singh leaves it alone.

Slower one, on the pads, Jemimah Rodrigues nudges it into the vacant region at mid-wicket for one run.

Floats it up, full and outside off. Jemimah Rodrigues waits for it, and tries to go for the slog sweep, but only manages to connect with thin air.

Short, outside off. Jemimah Rodrigues shuffles and tucks it to mid-wicket.