Meghana dazzles as India beat Malaysia by 30 runs via D/L method

By: PTIUpdated: October 3, 2022 6:18:39 pm

Opener Sabbhineni Meghana (69) batted with authority to record her maiden T20I half-century as India defeated Malaysia by 30 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method in the rain-curtailed Asia Cup match here on Monday.

Replacing vice-captain Smriti Mandhana at the top, Meghana hit a career-best 69 off 53 deliveries to help India post 181 for 4. In reply, Malaysia were tottering at 16/2 in 5.2 overs when rain stopped play, far behind the 46-run mark which was the D/L par score when the match was called off.

Team India 🇮🇳 and Team Malaysia 🇲🇾 were all smiles after they faced each other on Day 3 of the #WomensAsiaCup2022 🏆. #INDvMAL#AsianCricketCouncil#ACCpic.twitter.com/nRTAvd8EJY

— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) October 3, 2022

With the win, India moved to the second spot on the points table — with four points — behind Pakistan.

Meghana took the Malaysian bowling attack to the sword as she brought up her career-best score in the format after India were asked to bat. The big-hitting Shafali Verma, who is struggling for form, also pitched in but the teenager looked scratchy for the most part of her 46-run knock.

She was dropped on 14 by skipper Winifred Duraisingam (2/36) in the third over and the right-hander made the Malaysian’s pay for the error as she raced to fifty with a boundary.

Poor fielding only added to Malaysia’s woes as the Indian women looked on course for a 200-plus score.

However, Duraisingam got the big-wicket of Meghana. The Indian looked to drive only to chip the ball straight into the hands of extra cover, sending the entire Malaysian team into frenzy.

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Shafali, who had played the second second fiddle to perfection, smashed a couple of sixes but failed to carry on the momentum once Meghana was out. Richa Ghosh was elevated to the number three spot and the young wicketkeeper played a fluent 33-run knock, finding the gaps beautifully.

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But Shafali struggled to accelerate as Malaysia tightened their bowling and fielding while also triggering a mini-batting collapse.

In the eventful penultimate over, Shafali was bowled by 17-year-old Nur Dania Syuhada (2/9) off the first delivery before the spinner got rid of Kiran Navgire (0) in the next ball.

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It would have been three-wicket haul for the teenager had Richa not been dropped at deep mid-wicket on 31.

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Defending 181, spinners Deepti Sharma (1/10) and Rajeshwari Gayakwad (1/6) got rid of openers Winifred Duraisingam (0) and Wan Julia (1) before rain stopped play.

First published on: 03-10-2022 at 06:15:51 pm Next Story

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