'No pressure': Tigresses brace for daunting India semi final

Bangladesh have booked their place in the women's Asia Cup semi finals after beating the United Arab Emirates, setting up a last four meeting with India, a fixture that has repeatedly ended their tournament hopes in past editions.

"Sometimes, when you think of pressure, it feels like pressure. But for us, playing against a team like India is something to enjoy. They are a top quality team. So if you want to become champions, you have to play against them," batter Sharmin Akhter Supta said at the post match press conference.

Bangladesh's initial goal before leaving home had been to reach the final, with captain Nigar Sultana Joty openly hoping to avoid India in the semi finals.

That plan collapsed after a group stage defeat to Sri Lanka, confirming India as their opponent regardless of how the remaining group matches unfolded.

India enter Thursday's semi final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium as clear favourites, having dominated all three of their own group matches under Harmanpreet Kaur, and arriving as reigning ODI World Cup champions with a formidable T20 record to match.

Bangladesh's own batting form has steadily declined through the group stage, scoring 129 against Indonesia before slipping to 114 against Sri Lanka, and then managing just 103 against the UAE, a total that looked in serious jeopardy at one stage of the innings.

Bangladesh had slumped to 55 for six inside 12 overs against the UAE before Sharmin, playing her first match of the tournament, produced a crucial 38 off 31 balls. She added 42 for the eighth wicket alongside Nahida Akter to help the total reach a defendable level.

Sharmin explained her mindset during that partnership afterwards.

"Actually, sometimes these things can happen. At that time it was important for me to stay at the crease and build a partnership with the lower order batters. Because when you lose five or six wickets early, you have to manage the situation," she said.

She also praised her partner's composure under pressure.

"It was a little difficult. Nahida was brilliant at that moment. She gave me confidence, and I took the innings forward with her. Alhamdulillah, we were able to score more than 100. We knew how to win against teams like this because we had confidence in our bowling attack," she added.

That confidence in the bowling unit proved well placed. Marufa Akter struck early with a sharp new ball spell, taking two for nine in four overs, mixing her usual inswingers with several well disguised outswingers that caught even wicketkeeper captain Nigar by surprise.

The spinners followed with equal precision. Rabeya Khan, recalled to the side, claimed three for 14, while Sultana Khatun took one for 10 and Fahima Khatun added one for 16. Nahida Akter, who had also chipped in with 16 runs earlier, was named player of the match after finishing with two for 18.

The UAE were bowled out for just 69, handing Bangladesh a 34 run victory and safe passage into the semi finals despite the modest total they had defended.

Sharmin also acknowledged the crowd support Bangladesh received throughout the tournament despite the intense Dubai heat.

"Thank you to those who came to the ground and cheered for us. Especially when people come to the stadium for you and enjoy themselves after you win despite such difficult conditions, it is a huge achievement and a source of joy for us as well," she said.

History, however, offers little comfort against India. Bangladesh lost by 10 wickets to the same opponents in the semi finals of the last Asia Cup, having also finished as group stage runners up on that occasion after a defeat to Sri Lanka.

India also eliminated Bangladesh at the semi final stage of the 2023 Asian Games, extending a pattern of dominance broken only once, at the 2018 Asia Cup.