Shafali Verma blast puts India out of reach against Bangladesh in front of record WACA crowd

The 16-year-old opener top-scored with 39 from just 17 balls to continue India's unbeaten start to Group A

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India extended their stay at the top of Group A with an assured 18-run win over Bangladesh to close the T20 World Cup's stay on Australia's west coast.

With more than 5,000 spectators in place for the WACA clash, a quickfire 39 from prodigious 16-year-old opener Shafali Verma established a platform for India to overtake their own effort against Australia and post 142 for six, the tournament's highest total so far.

The ask was also one run more than Bangladesh's previous record chase in the format, set against India during the 2018 Asia Cup, and an encouraging 30 from Murshida Khatun gave the response some early momentum.

But hopes of repeating the feat were largely extinguished when Sanjida Islam and Fargana Hoque were caught in consecutive overs by wicketkeeper Taniya Bhatia, and Rajeshwari Gayakwad dismissing Nigar Sultana after a sharp 35 left Bangladesh requiring just shy of two runs per ball for the final three overs.

Verma had been elevated to the senior opener position earlier in the day after prolific partner Smriti Mandhana was ruled out with a viral illness, but the youngster displayed no indications of being flustered by the situation as she struck four of the game's five sixes within a thrilling 17-ball flurry.

The burst made her just the second Indian woman after captain Harmanpreet Kaur to complete an international T20 innings with a strike rate above 200 from more than 10 deliveries, and the sheer value of her contribution became increasingly evident as India struggled through the middle overs following her departure.

^{Poonam Yadav again starred with the ball to help India defend 143}

From a position of 53 for two after 5.3 overs, India took almost twice as many balls to move from 50 to 100 as they had for their first 50 runs (58 balls v 31 with Verma at the crease) and only a sparkling cameo of 20 from 11 balls from Veda Krishnamurthy inspired Kaur's side past the 130 marker after a spirited fielding display from their neighbours.

No.3 batter Jemimah Rodrigues scored only three boundaries in her anchor innings of 37 balls, but was run out for 34 in a decision referred to third umpire Sue Redfern, though such checks were not required three overs later when Krishnamurthy and Deepti Sharma found themselves sprinting towards the same end of the pitch in a farcical mix-up.

Poonam Yadav, India's wrist-spinning star on the tournament's opening evening, then continued her prolific showing in the tournament with figures of 3-18 to suffocate Bangladesh's chase, and Rumana Ahmed – named player of the match in each of her country's two wins over India in the women's game – was bowled by Shikha Pandey with the first ball of the game's final over to put the result beyond doubt.

Seamer Pandey allowed just 14 runs from her four overs and had also cheaply removed opener Shamima Sultana with her sixth ball of the day, while Arundhati Reddy also claimed a brace in Hoque and Khatun to derail the chase as the required rate began to spiral.

The result sees India maintain their perfect record against heading into Thursday's meeting in Melbourne with New Zealand, who are the only other undefeated side in Group A having put in a commanding performance against Sri Lanka in Perth on Saturday.

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