India defeated Bangladesh by 56 runs via D/L method to lead the series 4-0

India continued their dominant run against Bangladesh with a 56-run Duckworth-Lewis victory in rain that curtailed the women’s fourth T20 on Monday. A late start and delay of over an hour due to persistent rain and hail meant the competition had to be shortened. Harmanpreet Kaur (38) and Richa Ghosh (24) shared a 44-run stand to help India score 122 for 6 against Bangladesh after persistent rain reduced the contest to 14 overs per side. The hosts had to chase down 125 in 14 overs in the DLS method to secure their first win of the series. But the batsmen, except opener Dilara Akter (21), Rubya Haider (13) and Shorifa Khatun (11 not out), failed to reach double figures as they kept losing wickets in bunches.

India were given a first start by 33-year-old leg spinner Asha Shobhana, who returned with figures of 2/18 in three overs.

Senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma (2/13) picked two wickets while Radha Yadav (1/12) and pacer Pooja Vastrakar (1/15) accounted for a batsman each as India restricted Bangladesh to 68/7.

India lead the five-match series 4-0.

Earlier, playing her 300th international game, Kaur struck a crucial partnership with big-hitter Ghosh (24) to inflate India’s total.

The duo came out after the rain break with positive intentions and shared as many as eight boundaries and sixes in a spell of 28 deliveries.

India lost opener Shafali Verma (2) early on. Shorifa Khatun threw a longer ball and the goalkeeper tried to clear the pitch but was unable to center it as the ball flew into Ritu Moni’s hands as extra cover.

Dayalan Hemlatha (22) hit a couple of fours and sixes before his rampage was stopped by Marufa Akter, who trapped Indian leg before wicket.

Play was halted with India at 48/2 in 5.5 overs.

Smriti Mandhana (22) restarted the game by hitting a classy boundary. But the opener, who looked rough throughout the innings, couldn’t stay in the middle for long, falling prey to Rabeya Khan.

It was then that Ghosh (24) and Kaur joined forces to inflate India’s total before Ghosh was caught at long off. Kaur to was eliminated in the end.