The India women’s cricket team is inching closer to an ODI series win against Bangladesh in the third game at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Saturday, July 22. Fargana Haq’s maiden ODI century helped the hosts post a total of 225/4 batting first, but the half-century Smriti Mandhana And Harleen Deol has brought Women in Blue closer to a hard-fought victory.
However, fans saw the Indian skipper Harmanpreet KaurHis temper flared up after being given out in the 34th over when India needed 66 runs to win the match with seven wickets in hand.
India lost the wickets of struggling opener Shafali Verma and wicketkeeper-batsman Yastika Bhatia early but Mandhana and Harleen stitched a match-deciding 107-run partnership for the third wicket to take India close to the target.
Experienced leggie Fahima Khan provided the breakthrough for the hosts in the 29th over by taking the wicket of Mandhana, who ended her struggles with the bat by scoring 59 off 85 balls. Harmanpreet joined Harleen in the middle and the duo added 21 runs for the fourth wicket.
The Indian captain hit 14 off 21 with the help of two fours and looked in good touch to finish the game. But she lost her wicket to Nahida Akhtar while Fahima caught her in the slips. Harmanpreet was sure that the ball never touched the pad and bounced off her bat. But there was no option to appeal for a review as the umpire immediately raised his finger to signal lbw out.
This clearly irked Harmanpreet Kaur, who first threw her punches at the bat and then smashed the stumps in anger. He even argued with the umpire over the gesture while walking off the pitch. Her anger was understandable but it cannot be justified as she captains the Indian team and obviously she needs to show her anger without lashing out.