Dubai: India thrashed arch-rivals Pakistan by seven wickets with 68 balls to spare in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup here on Saturday. India remained at the top of the points table after winning all three of their matches. India were set a modest target of just 56 runs. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana claimed three wickets, including the prized scalp of Smriti Mandhana (9), the centurion in the previous match and one of the finest batters in women’s cricket, to briefly put India under some pressure. However, Harmanpreet Kaur, playing a record 150th match as captain in T20 cricket, and Deepti Sharma guided India home with an unbeaten 28-run partnership. Harmanpreet remained unbeaten on 18 off 18 balls, with one six and one four, while Deepti scored an unbeaten 12 off 14 balls with one four.
There was a huge India-supporting crowd at the Dubai stadium, and the fans kept cheering for the Indian team and lifting their spirits. Harmanpreet is the only player in the history of T20 internationals, across both men’s and women’s cricket, to captain in 150 matches. Among women, Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu is second on the list with 121 matches.
Sree Charani Wins Player of the Match Award
Before India chased down the target in 8.4 overs at 3/57, three Indian spinners had already pushed Pakistan towards a humiliating collapse. Pakistan were bowled out for their lowest-ever score of 55. Player of the Match Sree Charani took three wickets for seven runs, Prema Rawat claimed three for nine, while Deepti Sharma picked up two wickets for five runs. Pakistan must now beat Hong Kong to keep their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.
Three Ducks, Three in Single Digits
Pakistan’s batters offered virtually no resistance against India’s bowlers. They failed to build any substantial partnership and were bowled out in just 18.1 overs, well before the completion of their allotted 20 overs. Three batters were dismissed for ducks, while five managed only single-digit scores. Only two players reached double figures, with Shawal Zulfiqar scoring 14 and Muneeba Ali making 13.
India’s three spinners completely dismantled the Pakistan batting line-up. Part-time spinner Shafali Verma also claimed one wicket, dismissing opener Muneeba Ali.
Pakistan’s captain Fatima Sana and the team’s key batters came under immense pressure from the Indian bowlers and lost wickets one after another. At one stage, Pakistan suffered a dramatic collapse from the first through the sixth wicket, losing wickets at scores of 27, 28, 29, 32, 35 and 35.
Pakistan’s openers had initially handled the Indian attack reasonably well until the score reached 27, but Shafali Verma struck in that over to dismiss Muneeba Ali and trigger the collapse. Muneeba was clean bowled at 27, and at 28, Sree Charani sent Gull Feroza back to the pavilion for a duck. Before Pakistan could add much more, Sree Charani struck again at 29, trapping Shawal Zulfiqar lbw. At 32, Sree Charani returned to dismiss Ayesha Zafar caught behind. At 35, spinner Prema Rawat clean bowled Sadaf Shamas. Before Sadaf had barely settled into the dugout, captain Fatima Sana also departed at the same total, trapped lbw by Deepti Sharma.
Harmanpreet Delivers as Expected
At the toss, captain Harmanpreet Kaur had said, “Our bowling has been very good in this tournament, so it was good that we got the opportunity to bowl first. We prefer chasing a target.”
Harmanpreet’s assessment was proved right by her bowlers, and she eventually completed the job herself alongside Deepti Sharma, steering India safely across the finish line.
Also Read – Pakistan Opt to Bat in Women’s Asia Cup; Again No Handshake, Harmanpreet Ignores Fatima Sana
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