IND-W vs BAN-W Ball by Ball Commentary

OUT! HIT WICKET! A double whammy for Nandani Sharma to proceedings, and India Women win by 40 runs, marching into their 10th successive Asia Cup Final. Another back-of-the-hand slower one from Nandani, floating it on middle and leg. Rabeya Khan goes on one knee and is through her slog early. The ball goes over the leg stump and Khan ends up landing the bat on the top of the stumps whilst completing her swing. Bangladesh Women end with 109/7.

OUT! CAUGHT! Nandani Sharma picks up a wicket as well. Slower ball, pitched full and wide outside off. Fahima Khatun gives the charge and gets nowhere near the ball, slicing it towards backward point. Prema Rawat makes no mistake and Nandani brings out a 'shushing' celebration. It was a back-of-the-hand delivery as well.

FOUR! That's nicely done by Fahima. Length ball on off, Fahima shuffles to the off side and nails the scoop down to fine leg for a boundary.

Good length on middle, Akter makes a bit of room and lofts it down to long off for a run.

Slower one, drifted into the pads. Shorna Akter hops back and looks to work it away but gets hit on the pads.

Length ball on leg, Akter backs away and smacks it straight to mid off.

Really slower through the air, floated just outside off. Fahima Khatun attempts the reverse sweep but the ball turns away and beats the bat.

Darted in at the toes, Shorna nearly yorks herself as she steps out and smothers it to the leg side for another single.

Floated up at the stumps, Fahima comes forward and drives it down to long on for a single.

A full ball outside off, Fahima Khatun goes for the conventional sweep and misses again.

FOUR! A risky but better option to hit with the spin. Flatter one on off, Khatun brings out the reverse sweep, hitting it fine of short third for a boundary. The 100 is up for Bangladesh Women.

Another attempt to play across the line, that too against the turn. Tossed up, full and outside off, Fahima Khatun lunges to drag the sweep away but misses.

Shorter over middle, pulled aerially off the back foot and towards mid-wicket for a run.

Dragged length at the stumps, hit away down to long on for a single.

Swing and a miss! Flighted up, over the eyeline and just outside off. Shorna Akter hangs back and swings across the line but is well beaten.

Good length, just outside off, cut away towards point.

DROPPED! Oh, my! A nasty collision in the field. Shafali Verma sees Shorna Akter stepping out and pulls the length back. Shorna goes through with the heave and miscues it high towards square leg. The keeper and the fielder at short fine leg both go after it. Richa Ghosh sees Nandani Sharma coming and calls but neither of them backs down. Ghosh's helmet batters into the right shoulder of Nandani and both players are down on the deck. Two taken, and hopefully, both of them are fine.

SIX! Clean strike! Tossed up on off, Shorna Akter goes for the step hit and nails it over long on for a maximum. The target seems pretty far but Bangladesh are looking to give it their all.

Sloppy from the bowler. Full and straight, Fahima Khatun gets a bit of bat on the reverse sweep, hitting it to backward point for one. The throw at the bowler's end isn't collected by Sree Charani and she concedes an extra run.

A beauty! Looped up, getting it to dip on off and then turn away. Fahima Khatun looks to block but the ball zips past the outside edge.

Fullish length outside off, turning square after pitching. Fahima Khatun looks to drag and sweep against the turn and is well beaten.

Ooh, lovely flight and the ball catches the outside edge here. Shorna is early to move to the off side and Charani floats it wider, getting the ball to turn away, Shorna edges it past the keeper and down to deep third for a single.

Flatter on middle, swept away firmly to deep square leg for a single.

Oh, the turn saves Fahima here. Tossed up on off, turning away. Fahima Khatun looks to reverse sweep but misses and the ball goes past the off stump as well.

Tossed up at the stumps, Fahima Khatun comes forward and eases it down to long on for one. Deepti Sharma ends with figures of 4-0-26-3.

OUT! TIMBER! That's a classic Deepti Sharma dismissal, as she beats the batter in the air and off the deck as well. This is tossed up, on a length and around off. Sharmin Akhter makes the mistake of going onto the back foot. The ball pitches and holds a line, beating the bat to castle into the top of off stump. Bangladesh Women now slip to 83/5.

Floated up on middle and leg, Shorna Akter uses her feet to get forward and drives it to long on for one more.

Shorter and outside off, dabbed away from inside the crease to the right of short third for a single.

Full and on middle, sweeps away firmly but down to wide long on for a run.

DROPPED AND FOUR! A one-handed attempt from Smriti Mandhana in the deep, and Deepti Sharma feels that should have been taken. Tossed up at the stumps, Shorna Akter goes for the slog sweep and heaves it towards wide long on. Mandhana misjudges the trajectory of the ball and sticks out a right hand, but she had enough time to move further to her right and settle under it. The ball flicks the fingers and goes down, rolling onto the ropes.

OUT! LEADING EDGE AND CAUGHT! That, in all honesty, is the game in the kitty for India. Tossed up nicely by Prema, full around off and turning away. Sultana charges down the track, going for the big heave across the line, but a fat leading edge is found and the ball bobbles to the right of Nandani Sharma stationed at short third, who takes a simple catch. Bangladesh Women lose their skipper at the most inopportune time and are reduced to 76/4, needing another 84 runs from 30 balls.

Straighter one, on a length, skidding through. Nigar is rushed on the back foot and stabs it down the pitch.

Bowls it full on off, Shorna clips it across to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Overpitched, on off, Shorna shimmies down the track, almost yorks herself as she drills it back to the bowler.

Very full and outside off, Shorna slices it to Mandhana at point.

Full and outside off, Shorna drives it inside out through cover for a couple of runs.

She steps out of the crease and carves the full ball back at the bowler. Deepti collects the ball and threatens to throw it to the keeper.

SIX! Absolutely clobbered by the skipper. Bangladesh need plenty of those. Serves it full on off, Nigar Sultana skips down the track, maintains her shape and winds it behind deep mid-wicket for a six.

Nearly a run out! Tossed up, full and into the pads. Shorna bunts it towards Prema at square leg and sets off for a quick single. The throw comes in at the keeper's end. Ghosh collects the throw and whips the bails off in a flash, but Shorna is home safely.

OUT! CLEANED HER UP! Deepti continues to deliver the goods with the ball and picks up her second wicket. Flat and skiddy, not quite short enough to go back and cut. Sobhana gets caught in two minds, rocking back and dragging her leg out of the way, but the ball skids on after pitching and sneaks through the gap between bat and pad, crashing into the stumps behind her. Bangladesh Women are under tremendous pressure now, with 66/3 on the board, needing 84 runs from 39 balls.

On the stumps and full in length, spinning in, Nigar looks to work it through mid-wicket, but gets an inside edge and the ball squirts through to the right of short fine leg for a single.

Bowls it slower through the air, full and on leg, Nigar sweeps it hard to short fine leg. Both batters take a step forward but decide to return back where they came from. Nigar slips a bit in this process but hurries through before the throw arrives to the keeper.

Drops it short and outside off, Mostary cuts it to the left of point where Mandhana makes a fine diving stop. The partnership is worth 30 runs but they need to increase the frequency of boundaries here.

Around the off stump, spinning away on a shorter length. It is too close to cut, but Sobhana knifes it to the left of short third and they amble through for the second run.

A cheeky attempt, but it doesn't come off. Good length on the pads, Mostary tries to lift one leg and padde it fine but misses and gets hit on the body.

Bowls it stump-to-stump, on a length, on middle, Nigar hangs deep inside the crease and nudges it with soft hands to the mid-wicket region and calls her partner through for a single. Prema rushes forward, picks the ball and throws it flat to the keeper, but Sobhana has already made it home.

Sharp leg break, short and spinning from leg to off, Sobhana Mostary goes back and across and dinks it through mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! That's a glorious shot now! Very full by Prema, on off, Sobhana Mostary dances down the track, plays with the spin and lifts it over and between mid off and cover for a cracking four. That will release some pressure.

Shorter and on off, Sobhana Mostary rocks back and firmly pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single only. Ones and twos won't bother India much at this stage as Bangladesh need 93 runs from 48 balls.

Beaten comprehensively! Quicker and shorter by Shafali, wide outside off. Sobhana Mostary goes for a late cut by hanging back but the ball zips past her outside edge.

Loopy full delivery, on off and middle, Sobhana Mostary shimmies down the track and slices it over covers for a couple of more runs.

Pushed through, full and around off, Sobhana Mostary pushes it to the right of short third.

Short again, outside off, Sobhana Mostary cuts it very late and gets it past short third's left for a couple of runs. 96 runs needed off 52 balls.

A bit shorter and outside off, Nigar cuts it wide of backward point for a single.

Just over! Slower through the air, outside off, Sobhana Mostary lofts this full ball inside out and just manages to power it over Pratika Rawal at cover-point. The ball trickles into the deep and is hunted down by the backward point fielder. Two runs taken.

Beautifully bowled by Rawat! Drifts in, lands it full and gets it to spin away. Mostary is sucked on the front foot to drive it to the off side, but gets beaten on the outside edge. Richa Ghosh grabs it behind the stumps and lets out an appeal for caught behind, but she is the only one interested as the bowler walks back.

Closer to the off pole, short in length, Nigar Sultana hangs back and stabs it into covers for a brisk single.

Landed fuller and outside off, driven off the front foot to deep extra cover for a single.

Genuine turn! Sharp leg-break with an excellent flight, full outside off, Sobhana tries to push it away, but gets beaten all ends up.

Drops it short, outside off, Nigar Sultana hangs back and drags it to the left of Gaud at deep mid-wicket. Kranti fumbles to pick it up but she is quick to recover and denies the second run.

Fuller delivery on off, swept away along the turf and behind square leg for a single.

Ooh, tempers flaring out there in the middle. Sultana premeditates a bit and sets up for the reverse. Deepti sees it coming and floats it really full and Sultana ends up playing it off the back of the bat and straight to the bowler. Deepti collects the ball and fires in a throw at the batter's stumps. Sultana sticks out the right leg and deflects it away and both echange a few words.

FOUR! Nicely struck! Tossed up around off, Nigar Sultana lunges across to the off side and drags the sweep over the square leg region for a boundary.

A direct hit would have been really close! Loopy delivery, on a length. This one dips and turns in a bit. Nigar Sultana stays back and tucks it to mid-wicket. Sobhana Mostary wants the single and is quickly off the blocks but is rightly sent back. The throw at the bowler's end is a wide one but Deepti Sharma does well to collect it and whips off the bails. However, Mostary is well in.

Fuller and flatter on middle, swung away towards wide deep mid-wicket for just a single. A slightly better connection, and Mostary could have bisected the fielders at deep mid-wicket and long on.

Shorter delivery on leg, Mostary gets inside the line and stylishly angles it down to short fine leg.

The skipper trying to get the innings going for her side. Flighted delivery at the stumps, turning in. Nigar Sultana steps out and heaves it high and over mid-wicket for a couple of runs. 110 more needed off 66 balls.

Good length around off, jammed into the off side for a single by Mostary.

DROPPED! It's Pratika Rawal again who drops the catch. Quicker through the air, bowled flatter and wide outside off. Sobhana Mostary rocks back and cuts it straight to point, where Rawal spills a dolly of a catch.

Slower and shorter, Sultana just angles it away behind square leg and picks up a single.

Tossed up around off, Mostary goes for the scoop and edges it past the keeper for a single down to fine leg.

Floated up on a nagging length, on middle. Mostary blocks it off.

Good length on middle and leg, Nigar Sultana stays put and dabs it across to mid-wicket.

OUT! CAUGHT! A fine catch in the deep and Deepti Sharma strikes in her first over. Deepti offers flight, tossing it up on the stumps. Dilara Akter goes for the slog sweep, hitting it aerially and wide of deep mid-wicket. Kranti Gaud runs across quickly to her left and takes a fine catch, cushioning it with a slide and Bangladesh Women lose their second wicket.

Fuller and flatter around off, smothered away towards point.

Slower through the air, floated full and on leg. Dilara Akter gets across to sweep again but the ball dips late and beats the bat.

Flighted up on the pads, Akter gets inside the line to sweep it past short fine leg but misses and wears it on the pads.

FOUR! Hit hard, and hit in the gap as well. Loopy delivery, well wide of the off stump, Dilara Akter stays leg side of the ball, leans across and smacks it wide of sweeper cover for a boundary.

Full and straight, swept away without much timing to the right of square leg for a single. Deepti Sharma picks it up and scores a direct hit, but the batter is well in.

Nicely tossed up, just outside off and drawing the batter forward. Akter looks to block but the ball dips and turns past the outside edge.

FOUR! Slightly ill-directed and Dilara Akter puts it away. Fuller and on leg, Akter moves inside the line, paddling the sweep down to fine leg for a boundary.

Oh, that's zipped past the blade. Rawat drifts it in towards middle, on a length, but the ball grips and rips away sharply. Dilara Akter is completely squared up here.

Pushed through flatter and around off, stays a bit low. Akter backs away again and reaches out, slicing it down to backward point.

Fractionally shorter to begin with, turning away from off. Dilara Akter backs away and hits it to cover-point.

Another one, and Sree Charani ends the Powerplay with a wicket-maiden. Fuller and around off, sharp turn away from the right-hander. Mostary looks to work it leg side but is beaten again.

A pearler from Sree! Tossed up on off, this one grips and turns away with sharp bounce. Mostary looks to defend down the line but is well beaten.

Good length around off, Sobhana Mostary nudges it down to short third.

OUT! CAUGHT! Almost a collision between the keeper and the bowler, but they both slam the brakes in time, and that is a good catch by Richa Ghosh. Sree Charani offers more flight this time, bowling it fuller on middle and leg. Juairiya Ferdous goes for the slog sweep but miscues it badly. The ball lobs up towards silly mid on and it is Ghosh who scampers quickly and takes it before Charani could get her hands on it.

Ooh, that was in the air for a bit, but falls well short of the fielder. On a length and on off, grips a bit. Juairiya Ferdous looks to flick across the line and closes the bat face early, getting a leading edge in front of Nandani Sharma at short third.

Sliding into the pads, it stays low as well. Juairiya Ferdous looks to shovel it down to fine leg but misses and wears it on the pads.

Not all that short from Shafali, on off, Juairiya Ferdous hangs back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for an easy single. 4 runs off the over. Bangladesh Women need 124 runs from 90 balls.

Goes short and outside off, Dilara Akter gets in two minds whether to commit on the front foot, or play off the back foot. Hangs in between and chops it off the inside edge. The ball rolls to the right of the keeper for a single.

Quicker and flatter, on off, Juairiya Ferdous heaves it across to mid-wicket, where Harmanpreet Kaur bends low to her left but lets the ball through to for a single.

On middle and full, Akter sweeps it hard to deep square leg for a single.

Shortish around off, Dilara makes room and cuts it on the bounce to Mandhana at backward point.

A huge shout for stumping and the decision is sent upstairs for a review. Pitched slightly fuller and outside off, holding its line. Dilara swings across the line, looking to slog aerially but misses and Richa collects it cleanly behind the stumps before whipping the bails off. The side-on replay shows that Dilara's back leg momentarily got dragged out but she manages to slide it back in before Richa breaks the stumps.

Absolute jaffa from Charani! Drifts the ball in and then gets it to bite away from the batter, on a fullish length. Juairiya Ferdous is flummoxed by the excessive turn. She tries to push at it but the ball zips past her outside edge.

Short outside off, turning away. Ferdous taps it to short third.

Full, outside off, Juairiya Ferdous brooms it over square leg for a couple of runs.

Excellently done by Kaur. She saves a certain boundary. The third umpire is brought in to have a check and the replay confirms that Kaur has cleanly saved two runs. A bit short, outside off, Juairiya Ferdous lifts it over extra cover and Kaur gives it a long chase and slides to flick the ball in. She does so centimeters before the ropes and the batters run two.

Outside off, on a length. Juairiya Ferdous pokes at it tamely and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Starts with a loopy full ball, spinning away, outside off. Juairiya Ferdous gets low on a knee to slog sweep across the line, but the ball spins and beats her bat.

Good length ball, on off, Akter tries to work that across by hanging back but chips it off the leading edge. Luckily for her, the ball lands in front of Rawal at cover-point.

FOUR! Sloppy from Nandani Sharma! She could have done a lot better there. Short of a length, on middle, Dilara Akter hangs back and pulls it uppishly to the left of deep square leg. Nandani runs to her left, slides and even gets to the ball, but ends up parrying it to the ropes for a boundary.

Nagging length, outside off, Dilara knocks it firmly to the right of cover, but Pratika does well to slide and stop it nicely.

Loose from Akter! Outside off, on a good length. Dilara does not move her feet at all and tries to guide it to the off side, but the ball nips away slightly to beat her angled bat.

Slower leg-cutter, on a good length, on off. Dilara Akter stays put and looks to knock it away, but gets an inside edge onto her back pad.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Short of a length with no pace on the ball. Dilara Akter gets a bit across and pulls it to the long leg region, beating Nandani Sharma's chase to her right for a boundary. Bangladesh are off to a very positive start in their chase.

Swing and a miss! Curves away very late, full and outside off, Juairiya Ferdous throws her bat at it and slashes hard to access the off side, but the ball leaves her to beat the outside edge. Bangladesh Women need 140 runs from 108 balls.

FOUR! Up and over! A loosener from Nandani. Juicy half-volley and it is the slower one again, on middle, Juairiya Ferdous picks the pace-off ball and heaves it over the mid-wicket fielder for a boundary.

Around off and full, pushed away to mid off.

Beaten! A back-of-the-hand slower one, full and outside off, Juairiya Ferdous is completely outfoxed by the lack of pace. She tries to swing it out of Dubai but only manages to connect a handful of air.

Overpitched, on off, Juairiya Ferdous drills it off the inner half to mid on.

Full and outside off, Dilara lofts it over extra cover. Sree Charani swoops to her left in the deep and cuts it off. One run taken.

FOUR! Shot of authority! Short of a good length, angled into the batter. Juairiya Ferdous stands tall, picks the length early and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary. That just rifled off her blade. One bounce and into the fence. 5 runs off the opening over.

Beauty! This one holds its line on a good length, outside off. Ferdous loosely wafts at it and gets beaten on the outside edge.

DROPPED! Pratika Rawal shells a genuine chance. Back of a length, outside off, slightly holds on the surface. Dilara Akter slashes at it, playing away from her body and chips it towards cover-point, where Pratika Rawal leaps a bit, stretches both her hands over her head but the ball just doesn't stick and drops down. One run taken.

Serves it full now, on middle, Dilara strokes it to Rawal stationed at cover.

Nips back in, short on middle and leg. Akter hops on the toes to bunt it down the track but gets an inside edge onto her body.

Full and straight, on middle, Dilara presents straight bat face and drives it to the mid off fielder.