Ind vs Pak: Clinical India Romp To 7-Wicket Win Over Pakistan In Women’s Asia Cup T20
In a dominant display, India triumphed over Pakistan by seven wickets in the Women’s Asia Cup T20 in Dambulla on Friday, kickstarting their title defense in style. Pakistan, batting first, could only muster 108 runs before being bowled out. India then chased down the modest target with 35 balls to spare.
Openers Shafali Verma (40) and Smriti Mandhana (45) set the tone with their aggressive batting, dismantling the Pakistani bowling attack. They were particularly harsh on Tuba Hassan, from whom they took 15 runs in the sixth over and 21 runs in the seventh, courtesy of Mandhana’s five boundaries.
Mandhana was dismissed in the 10th over, caught by Aliya Riaz off Syeda Aroob Shah, and Shafali followed in the 12th over. Despite these losses, the damage was already done. Dayalan Hemalatha (14) was also dismissed cheaply, but Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues steered India to a comfortable victory.
India’s bowling effort was spearheaded by Deepti Sharma (3/20), who was instrumental in restricting Pakistan. Pooja Vastrakar (2/31) made early inroads, dismissing both Pakistani openers, Gull Feroza and Muneeba Ali, reducing Pakistan to 26 for 2. Off-spinner Shyreyanka Patil (2/14) also chipped in by removing Aliya Riaz.
Pakistan’s batters struggled to form partnerships, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Skipper Nida Dar was caught at long-on by Hemalatha off Deepti’s bowling, attempting a big hit. Renuka Singh (2/14) wrapped up the tail with two wickets in consecutive deliveries, dismissing Sidra Amin and trapping Iram Javed leg before, leaving Pakistan reeling at 61 for 6.
A brief resistance came from Tuba Hassan (22) and Fatima Sana (22 not out), who added a valuable 31-run stand for the seventh wicket. However, Deepti struck thrice in the 18th over, dismissing Hassan and Sandhu, while Shah was run out, denying Deepti a hat-trick. Sana’s two sixes off Radha Yadav in the 19th over pushed Pakistan’s total past 100, but it was too little, too late.