India are back in the Women’s Asia Cup final — for the 10th straight time. A 40-run semifinal victory over Bangladesh in Dubai looked comfortable by the end, but the game demanded more patience than the final margin suggests.
Shafali changed the tempo
India lost Smriti Mandhana early, but Shafali Verma refused to let Bangladesh settle. She attacked through the powerplay and made 64, giving India momentum on a surface where timing was not always easy.
India eventually reached 149 for six. Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh helped stabilise and finish the innings after Bangladesh briefly pulled the scoring rate back.
Bangladesh had chances
Bangladesh created opportunities in the field, but missed chances gave India valuable breathing room. On a slow pitch, every dropped catch mattered because boundaries were becoming harder to find as the innings progressed.
Then India’s bowling took over
The chase never completely collapsed, but India’s spinners kept it under control. Bangladesh finished on 109 for seven, 40 runs short of the target. Deepti Sharma took three wickets and again showed why she has been one of India’s most reliable tournament performers.
What the win says about India
This was not India at their most explosive. That may actually be the useful part. Knockout tournaments are often won by teams that can solve different kinds of games, and India showed they can absorb pressure, build a defendable total and then let the bowling attack close the door.
What happens next
India move into the September 13 final with another chance to extend their remarkable continental record. The batting still has areas to tighten, but the team has reached the title match without needing a perfect performance.
Source: India Today
