League: Cricket
In the 2nd Match of Group A of the Women’s Asia Cup T20 2024, India Women triumphed over Pakistan Women by 7 wickets in an exciting contest held at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, but their innings faltered early. Despite a resilient knock from Sidra Ameen, who scored 25 runs off 35 balls with 3 boundaries, Pakistan were bowled out for a modest total of 108 runs in 19.2 overs. Tuba Hassan and Sana Fatima chipped in with 22 runs each, adding some respectability to the total.
India’s bowlers put on an impressive show, with Deepti Sharma leading the charge. Deepti took 3 wickets for 20 runs in her 4 overs, ably supported by Renuka Thakur and Shreyanka Patil, who both picked up 2 wickets each. Renuka was particularly economical, conceding just 14 runs in her 4 overs, while Patil’s 3.2 overs cost only 14 runs as well. Pooja Vastrakar also contributed with 2 wickets, despite being a bit expensive, conceding 31 runs in her 4 overs.
Chasing a target of 109, India Women got off to a flying start with their openers, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, laying a solid foundation. Shafali played an aggressive innings, scoring 40 runs off 29 balls with 6 fours and a six. Mandhana was equally impressive, crafting a well-paced 45 runs off 31 balls, hitting 9 boundaries. Their partnership set the tone for the chase, making it difficult for Pakistan’s bowlers to contain the flow of runs.
Despite a couple of quick wickets towards the end, including captain Harmanpreet Kaur for 5 runs and Jemimah Rodrigues for 3, India comfortably reached the target in 14.1 overs. Syeda Aroob Shah was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers, taking 2 wickets for just 9 runs in her 3 overs, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
India’s dominant performance, both with the ball and the bat, showcased their superiority and strategic execution. With this win, they have made a strong statement in the tournament, underlining their quest for the Women’s Asia Cup T20 2024 title.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.