HONG KONG: Shreyanka Patil and Mannat Kashyap, a spin bowling pair, shone with the ball after a subdued batting performance to lead the India U-23 side to the Women's Emerging Asia Cup T20 title with a 31-run victory over Bangladesh in the final on June 21.
India chose to bat first, scoring a modest 127 for 7, but the bowlers quickly answered to the challenge, splitting seven wickets between them between Patil (4/13) and Kashyap (3/20), allowing India to knock out Bangladesh for 96 in 19.2 overs. Kanika Ahuja, an off-break bowler (2/23) contributed two wickets as well. On a sluggish Mission Road Ground pitch, the Indians put on a comprehensive spin show, with off-spinner Patil and slow left-arm orthodox Kashyap ruling the roost.
For Bangladesh, Nahida Akter was left stranded on 17 not out while Sobhana Mostary and Nahida Akter each scored 16 runs. Earlier, Kanika Ahuja finished undefeated on 30 off 23 balls, while Dinesh Vrinda led India with 36 off 29.
Only four Indian batters managed double-digit scores, while Bangladeshi bowlers often took out wickets, making it difficult for India to put up any meaningful partnerships. Vrinda and Ahuja were the only other Indian batsmen to reach double digit runs, with wicketkeeper U. Chetry (22) and captain Shweta Sehrawat (13) following closely behind.
Both off-spinner Sultana Khatun (2/30) and slow left-arm orthodox bowler Nahida Akter (2/13) took two wickets each for Bangladesh.
India advanced to the final after their semifinal match against Sri Lanka was called off on Tuesday without a bowl being taken.
India played just one game leading up to the final, their opener against the hosts Hong Kong, which they won by nine wickets, in an odd turn of events. None of the balls were bowled in India's other three matches, including the semifinal versus Sri Lanka. The event was actually ruined by rain, which resulted in up to eight games being called off.
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