Shafali’s blazing fifty keeps India’s semi-final hopes alive

India did not make it look comfortable, but the result is all that will matter on the road to the semi-finals. Shafali Verma’s rapid half-century carried them past Bangladesh by five wickets at Old Trafford on Thursday, and a scratchy but decisive win keeps their qualification hopes firmly in their own hands.

Shafali sets the chase alight

Bangladesh had posted a competitive 136 for 8, and the early signs suggested a nervy night for India. Then Shafali got going. Dropped in the very first over, she made the let-off count, racing to fifty in just 29 balls, the second-fastest half-century by an India batter in Women’s T20 World Cup history, behind only Harmanpreet Kaur’s 27-ball effort against Sri Lanka in 2024. Eight fours and a six studded an innings of 53 from 34 deliveries that broke the back of the chase inside the powerplay and earned her the player-of-the-match award.

Once she was dismissed, India wobbled more than they would have liked, losing wickets in a clump and offering Bangladesh the odd half-chance. Harmanpreet Kaur steadied things at the death and was there with Deepti Sharma when the winning runs came, India reaching 139 for 5 with 19 balls to spare. It was untidy in patches, with a couple of dropped catches and ragged fielding, but the captain will take five wickets and a healthy net run rate every time.

Radha turns the screw with the ball

The platform for the win was laid earlier, when India choked the life out of Bangladesh’s innings. Juairiya Ferdous top-scored with 33 and Nigar Sultana made 32, but the lower order was strangled in the closing overs. Radha Yadav, brought into the side, was the chief tormentor with 3 for 28, removing Sobhana Mostary and Sultana before bowling Ritu Moni. With Shree Charani chipping in, India pulled things back to concede only a handful in a death-overs collapse that cost Bangladesh five wickets for 28.

Australia next, with a knockout spot on the line

The victory lifts India to six points and second place in Group 1, two clear of South Africa and Bangladesh, with their superior net run rate offering a useful cushion. The reward is a daunting one. India travel to Lord’s on Tuesday to face an Australia side that has been the team of the tournament so far, and a place in the last four is likely to ride on the outcome. Win in their own right and the semi-final is sealed, no calculators required.

For one night, though, the focus stays on a young opener who turned a tense evening into a routine one. India have lived dangerously through this group stage, but with Shafali in this mood, they remain very much alive.

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