Bangladesh women鈥檚 national team produced their best batting performance of the five-match Twenty20 International series against India in the fifth and final game in Sylhet but it was not enough to avoid a clean sweep as they suffered a 21-run defeat on Thursday.
Chasing a target of 157, Bangladesh ended on 135-6 鈥� their highest team total this series 鈥� courtesy of a record sixth-wicket partnership of 57 runs between Shorifa Khatun and Ritu Moni but it was not enough as their top-order failed again.
The highest team total for Bangladesh in this series prior to this game was 119.
During their chase, Bangladesh lost both their openers 鈥� Sobhana Mostary (13) and Dilara Akter (4) 鈥� within the powerplay, and by the ninth over ended, they were four wickets down as skipper Nigar Sultana Joty (4) and Rubya Haider (20) were also back in the hut.
Following the dismissal of Shorna Akter (1) in the next over, Ritu and Shorifa put together the only partnership that showed some intent of chasing the total down as they added 57 runs in 41 balls but the sluggish batting up front meant the partnership just reduced the deficit.
Ritu scord 37 off 33 balls hitting four fours, while Shorifa stayed unbeaten on 28 off 21 balls, scoring three fours.
Radha Yadav picked up three wickets for India, while Asha Sobhana got a couple.
Earlier in the day, after opting to bat first, India lost Shafali Verma 鈥� playing her 100th international match 鈥� in the fifth over for 14 to Sultana Khatun.
That did not stop their flow of runs as Smriti Mandhana (33), Dayalan Hemalatha (37), Harmanpreet Kaur (30), and Richa Ghosh (28*) combined to take India to 156-5.
Rabeya Khan and Nahida Akter picked up two wickets each for Bangladesh.
