India’s women’s cricket team showcased their dominance over arch-rivals Pakistan in the opening match of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup, securing a comfortable seven-wicket victory at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Friday.
Pakistan Batters Struggle Against Indian Bowling Attack
Chasing a modest target of 109 runs set by Pakistan, India’s openers, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, laid a solid foundation for victory with an impressive 85-run partnership.
Pakistan’s batting lineup struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack, managing only 108 runs. Deepti Sharma was the standout bowler for India, taking three crucial wickets for just 20 runs.
Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar, and Shreyanka Patil also contributed with important wickets, ensuring Pakistan couldn’t post a challenging total. Despite a late flourish from Fatima Sana, who scored an unbeaten 22 off 16 balls, Pakistan fell well short of a competitive score.
Mandhana and Verma Star for India in Dominant Chase
In reply, India’s openers continued their fine form. Mandhana scored a well-paced 45 runs off 31 balls, while Verma, known for her aggressive batting, contributed a valuable 40 runs off 29 deliveries.
Though India lost wickets at regular intervals after the departure of the openers, captain Harmanpreet Kaur (10*) and Jemimah Rodrigues (5*) ensured they reached the target comfortably in the 15th over, sealing a dominant win for their team.
Pakistan’s Nida Dar Creates History
Despite the disappointing result for Pakistan, their captain Nida Dar achieved a significant personal milestone. She became the first Pakistani woman cricketer to play 150 T20 Internationals. Dar was honored with a commemorative signed team jersey before the start of the match, marking this remarkable achievement in her cricketing career.
Pakistan Look Ahead to Nepal Challenge
Following this defeat, Pakistan will now shift their focus to their next match against Nepal, scheduled for July 21st at the same venue. They will be eager to bounce back and secure a win to keep their tournament hopes alive.
The team will need to address their batting woes and come up with a more resilient performance to overcome the challenge posed by Nepal.
India’s comprehensive victory in the opening match of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup highlights their strength and form, setting the tone for their campaign. Meanwhile, Pakistan will aim to regroup and make the necessary adjustments to turn their fortunes around in the upcoming matches.