The aspirations of the Bangladesh ‘A’ women’s cricket team were dashed once again as they suffered a comprehensive 46-run defeat at the hands of India ‘A’ in the final of the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament. Despite a competitive bowling performance that restricted India to a gettable total, a batting collapse ensured that the trophy remained in Indian hands for the second consecutive edition.
A Tale of Two Innings
Opting to bat first in Bangkok, Thailand, India ‘A’ struggled initially against a disciplined Bangladeshi attack led by captain Fahima Khatun. At the halfway mark, India were reeling at 53 for 4, with Fahima’s leg-spin proving particularly effective as she claimed figures of 4 for 25.
However, the momentum shifted decisively during a 69-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Radha Yadav (36) and Tejal Hasabnis. Hasabnis was the standout performer, striking a brisk, unbeaten 51 off 34 balls—aided by a dropped catch in the final over—to propel India to a total of 134 for 7.
The Batting Collapse
In reply, Bangladesh ‘A’ started with intent, reaching 36 for 1 at the end of the powerplay. However, the introduction of spin saw the scoring rate plummet. From a steady 48 for 3 after 10 overs, the innings unravelled spectacularly. The Bangladeshi batters struggled to build partnerships, with the highest stand being a mere 25 runs between Shamima Sultana (20) and Sharmin Sultana (18).
The pressure exerted by the Indian bowlers, led by Prema Rawat (3 for 12), proved insurmountable. Bangladesh lost their final seven wickets for just 40 runs, eventually being bowled out for 88 in 19.1 overs.
| Team | Score | Top Performers | Best Bowlers |
| India ‘A’ | 134/7 (20) | T. Hasabnis (51*), R. Yadav (36) | P. Rawat (3/12), T. Kanwar (2/11) |
| Bangladesh ‘A’ | 88 (19.1) | Shamima S. (20), Sharmin S. (18) | F. Khatun (4/25), Fatema T. (1/19) |
Historical Dominance
This victory marks India ‘A’s’ second successive triumph in the tournament, having previously defeated Bangladesh ‘A’ in the inaugural 2023 edition in Hong Kong. For Bangladesh, it was a case of “what might have been,” as their inability to sustain momentum during the middle overs left them well short of the target.
Tejal Hasabnis was deservedly named Player of the Match for her match-defining half-century, which ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides on a challenging Bangkok surface.