India 47 for 1 in 5.2 overs (Hemalatha 41*, Marufa 1-11) beat Bangladesh 119 (Murshida 46, Radha 3-19, Deepti 2-14) by 19 runs via DLS method
Radha Yadav's three wickets and D Hemalatha's breezy 41 not out on comeback helped India beat Bangladesh by 19 runs in the rain-hit second T20I in Sylhet. India lead the five-match series 2-0.
After India's spin trio of Radha, Shreyanka Patil, and Deepti Sharma dismissed Bangladesh for 119, Hemalatha - returning to India's XI after one and half years in place of the injured Yastika Bhatia - took the visitors to 47 for 1 in 5.2 overs before the second rain break ended the game. India were 19 runs ahead of the DLS par score of 28 when the match was officially called off, and Hemalatha was adjudged the Player of the Match.
India lost Shafali Verma for a golden duck in the small chase, but Hemalatha's fluency against the new ball and crisp stroke-play yielded five fours and two sixes in her 24-ball innings. Smriti Mandhana was unbeaten on 5 off seven deliveries at the other end as Hemalatha made most of the opportunity at No.3.
Bangladesh had shown intent after choosing to bat, following a dismal performance in the first T20I when they were restricted to 101 for 8. But their intent didn't result in runs. Opener Murshida Khatun scored a 49-ball 46 with five boundaries but none of her team-mates got going.
Despite losing Dilara Akter and Sobhana Mostary in the second and sixth overs, Bangladesh got to 43 for 2 in the powerplay. India's spinners, however, began to exert pressure after the field restrictions were lifted. Left-arm spinner Radha trapped Nigar Sultana and Fahima Khatun lbw off successive deliveries in the 10th over, and Patil and Deepti also picked up two wickets each.
Bangladesh were 70 for 5 after 11 overs when rain halted play for an hour. Once the match resumed and the pitch became sluggish, India spinners found more turn and drift to trouble the batters.
Ritu Moni, who replaced Shorna Akther in the XI, scored a 18-ball 20 and added 32 off 31 with Murshida for the sixth wicket. They took Bangladesh past 100 before Deepti returned to bowl Moni in the 16th over. Bangaldesh slumped after that from 101 for 5 to 119 all out.
Radha, in the penultimate over, picked up her third wicket by drawing Rabeya Khan out of her crease with flight and having her stumped to finish with figures of 3 for 19 in four overs. Pooja Vastrakar then bowled Fariha Trisna in the final over to dismiss Bangladesh for a below-par total.
