Twitter Reactions: Shafali Verma’s all-round heroics seal India’s series victory in low-scoring affair

India Women’s Cricket team. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Harmanpreet Kaur’s Indian team prevailed in a low-scoring thriller at the Shere Bangla National Stadium to claim the T20I series against a spirited Bangladesh. The Women in Blue were under the pump after posting a mediocre total in the first innings, only for Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma to hold their nerves with the ball to seal India’s victory.

Chasing a below-par total on a sluggish surface, Bangladesh were off to a flier after milking ten runs off the very first over of the second innings. However, the introduction of spin derailed the Bangladeshi chase as both the openers departed in successive overs. 

Murshida Khatun and Ritu Moni also departed cheaply as the Indian spinners started dictating terms in the second innings. With her team in dire straits, Bangladeshi skipper Nigar Sultana decided to hold the fort from one end. She stitched a valiant partnership with Shorna Akter to revive the home side’s chances of a series-levelling victory. 

She was also aided by some wayward bowling by the Indian slower bowlers as Bangladesh inched their way towards a memorable victory in a low-scoring thriller. However, India had a chance to dismiss the well-set Sultana, only for Harleen Deol to drop a tough chance at a crucial juncture in the nail-biting chase.

Harleen’s drop did not prove to be costly as the Bangladeshi skipper was stumped by Yastika Bhatia in the penultimate over of the match. The home side completely lost the plot after the wicket, succumbing to a defeat from a strong position after Shafali Verma’s impeccable final over. 

Bangladesh’s spin twins choke the Indian batters

The visitors were off to a decent start as openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma mixed caution with aggression. However, India’s batting innings came crashing down after the Women in Blue lost three wickets without adding a single run. 

Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was cleaned up by Sultana Khatun for a golden duck during the atrocious collapse by the top order. Although wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia tried to up the ante with her attacking intent, her innings was cut short after a stunning catch from Shorna Akter.

The visitors never recovered after losing four wickets in quick succession, going into a shell against the Bangladesh slower bowlers. The spin-bowling duo of Sultana Khatun and Fahima Khatun never let the Indian batters settle in the middle overs as the Women in Blue finished with a modest total of 95 runs in their 20 overs.

Three wickets in the final over for Shafali Verma as India win a low-scoring thriller and seal the T20I series 2-0 🔥#BANvIND 📝: https://t.co/mspye3W0qI pic.twitter.com/nge2ZS0yRl

— ICC (@ICC) July 11, 2023

🔥 THRILLER IN MIRPUR! The girls defended their lowest-ever total in style to secure the T20I series victory against Bangladesh!

💪🏻 Let’s go for a clean sweep, girls!

📷 Getty • #INDvBAN #BANvIND #BANWvINDW #TeamIndia #BharatArmy pic.twitter.com/hty2jwIZpI

— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) July 11, 2023

Shafali Verma had to defend nine in the final over.

This is how the over went:

1W (run out) W • W • W#BANvIND pic.twitter.com/HwC3ulKzjk

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) July 11, 2023

Shafali Verma, primarily an opening batter, now has double the number of wickets than the number of 50+ scores in her T20I career.#BANvIND

— Rhitankar Bandyopadhyay (@rhitankar8616) July 11, 2023

Jemimah Rodrigues in international cricket and all franchise cricket combined (WBBL + WT20 Challenge + Kia Super League + WPL) :-

Before today – bowled 5 overs in 158 matches
Today – bowled 4 overs@JemiRodrigues #BANvIND

— Rhitankar Bandyopadhyay (@rhitankar8616) July 11, 2023

Deepti Sharma won the Player of the Match award for her spell of 3/12 in 4 Overs.#BANvIND pic.twitter.com/ytOZKPJyIP

— Krish (Annabel Sutherland Stan) (@143NotOut) July 11, 2023

An incredible win for 🇮🇳

Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma both end with 3⃣ wickets each as 🇧🇩 fall short by 8 runs 🙌#BANvIND

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) July 11, 2023

W+1, W, 0, W, 0, W by Shafali Verma in the final over while defending just 10 runs.

India defended 95 runs in the 2nd T20I & won the series. pic.twitter.com/zI9aeJaaEy

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 11, 2023

While I am glad that India won today, but today’s match has only acted as a fuel to the fire created by selection blunders…

No role clarity, no position clarity. And I understand there might be some genuine reasons but at least come forward and let us know the reasons. #BANvIND

— Dollar (Muskan Kathuria) (@dollar180998) July 11, 2023

In a game with an aggregate of 40 overs played and only 182 runs scored, Minnu Mani’s was the only maiden over all innings. #BANvIND

— Tareque Laskar (@tarequelaskar) July 11, 2023