MIRPUR, July 22: Bangladesh rallied back in the third and final ODI here on Saturday to hold India to a tie and keep the series level at 1-1.
After an entertaining series between the Asian neighbours, there was nothing to differentiate Bangladesh and India as the two sides had to share the trophy after a tied final game.
India appeared to be on course for a resounding triumph before the rain interruption, requiring only 53 runs in 12 overs with six wickets in hand. However, the tide began to shift when the visitors gifted two wickets in a single over through run-outs, giving Bangladesh a glimmer of hope and a renewed opportunity to capitalize on the situation, the ICC reported.
Despite the setback, India made a determined comeback, boosted by a vital 24-run partnership between Jemimah Rodrigues and Amanjot Kaur. However, requiring only 10 runs off the last 19 balls, Bangladesh retaliated with three wickets in five balls as Jemimah was helplessly stranded watching.
Needing eight off eight balls, No.11 Meghana Singh eased the nerves with a boundary. Despite India managing to level the scores in the final over, the game culminated in a tie when Meghana was caught behind off the third ball.
Harleen Deol (77) and Smriti Mandhana (59) were the stars for India with the bat while Bangladesh had Marufa and Nahida Akter to thank for bringing them back into the game.
The tied game was just the ninth in women’s ODI history. This was the first time Bangladesh were involved in a tied game while India have previously played out a tie once.
Earlier in the day, Fargana Hoque grabbed all the headlines by becoming the first Bangladesh women’s player to score an ODI century. Battling cramps and a sore forearm, she scored 107 to propel Bangladesh to their second-highest total in Women’s ODIs, as Bangladesh finished on 225/4 in their 50 overs. (UNI)
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