Rana spins India to victory over Bangladesh

Sneh Rana's four wickets helped India keep their semi-final hopes alive as they skittled Bangladesh for a 110-run victory at the 2022 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup.

Spinner Rana finished with figures of 4-30 from her 10 overs as Bangladesh were bowled out for 119 in Hamilton despite the best efforts of Salma Khatun, who made a brisk 32 from 35 balls.

Earlier, India had set Bangladesh a target of 230 to win on the back of Yastika Bhatia's half-century, although Ritu Moni's 3 for 37 - including two wickets in two balls - somewhat checked their progress.

India captain Mithali Raj opted to bat upon winning the toss and her side made a strong start, Smriti Mandhana getting the scoreboard moving with back-to-back boundaries to conclude the second over.

Her opening partner Shafali Verma went one better in the ninth, striking Nahida Akter for what would turn out to be the only six of the innings over long-on, and three boundaries in the following over saw India end the powerplay well set on 52 without loss.

Nahida provided the breakthrough for Bangladesh when Mandhana picked out Fargana Hoque at square leg to fall for 30 and end the opening partnership on 74. One then became three in the blink of an eye, with Moni accounting for Verma and Raj in consecutive deliveries in the next over.

Bhatia and Harmanpreet Kaur were tasked with the rebuilding job and it was one they set about cautiously, the pair content to rotate the strike as the Bangladesh attack kept boundaries to a minimum.

Just two arrived between the fall of Raj in the 16th over and midway through the 30th, a spell which also included the departure of Kaur for 14 courtesy of a direct hit from Fargana at mid-on. Richa Ghosh (26) joined Bhatia and was quickly up and