First T20: Sajana makes debut as India put Bangaldesh in to bat | Cricket News

Sylhet: Cameos by Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh took India to 145/7 against Bangladesh in the opening Twenty20 International (T20I) here on Sunday.

Shafali made 31 off 22 balls while her opening partner Smrit Mandhana fell for nine after Harmanpreet opted to bat on winning the toss. Yastika top-cored with a 29-ball 36, while Harmanpreet contributed 30 off 22 balls.

Richa made 23 off 17 balls, while debutant S Sajana scored a run-a-ball 11. Leggie Rabeya Khan claimed 3/23 for the home side.

All-rounder Sajana became the second Keralite after Minnu Mani to represent India in women's T20Is. Sajana is a hard-hitting batter and a handy off-spinner.

Another Keralite Asha Sobhana, who is in the squad, was  left out of the series opener. 

The teams:  Bangladesh: Dilara Akter, Murshida Khatun, Shorna Akter, Nigar Sultana (capt & wk), Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Sobhana Mostary, Nahida Akter, Sultana Khatun, Marufa Akter, Fariha Trisna.

India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Deepti Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), S Sajana, Richa Ghosh, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Thakur Singh, Radha Yadav.