Title contenders India opened their campaign in the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2016 with an emphatic 72-run victory on Tuesday. Host India, which had won 10 of its last 13 T20I matches heading into the tournament, outplayed Bangladesh with both bat and ball to issue a stern warning to other rivals in the 10-nation event
Having being sent in to bat, India piled up its highest T20I total of 163 for five, surpassing the previous best of 151 for five against the same opponents two years ago.
Skipper Mithali Raj led the way with 42 off 35 ball, putting on 62 for the first wicket with Vellaswamy Vanitha, who made 38.
Harmanpreet Kaur, later named player of the match, smashed two sixes and three boundaries while making a 29-ball 40. Veda Krishnamurthy boosted the total with an unbeaten 36 off 24 balls.
Bangladesh were restricted to 91 for five in reply as India's spin twins Anuja Patil and Poonam Yadav claimed two wickets each. Nigar Sultana top-scored for her team with 27 not out.
Mithali said she was pleased to start the tournament on a winning note. “Bangladesh is an improved side so we were certainly not expecting an easy game,” she said.
“I am glad we played well and won the match convincingly. But we need to continue in the same manner if we are to progress beyond the league.”
Bangladesh captain Jahanara Alam said India proved too strong for her side, but was glad the way her players responded to the challenge.
“We had hoped to restrict India to around 125-130 but their batters were so good,” Jahanara said. “I think Rumana and Nahida bowled well and then it was nice to see us get 91 runs against a strong side.”
India and Bangladesh have been drawn alongside England, Pakistan and the West Indies in Group B with the top two teams advancing to the semi-finals.
The other group comprises three-time defending champion Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Brief score: India 163-5 in 20 overs (Mithali Raj 42, Vellaswamy Vanitha 38, Harmanpreet Kaur 40, Veda Krishnamurthy 36 not out; Rumana Ahmed 2-35, Fahima Khatun 2-31) beat Bangladesh 91-5 in 20 overs (Sharmin Akhter 21, Nigar Sultana 27 not out; Anuja Patil 2-16, Poonam Yadav 2-17) by 72 runs.
