Dubai: Pakistan, who opted to bat first after winning the toss in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup, were bowled out for just 55 by India, leaving India with a target of only 56 runs to win. Pakistan’s 55 is the lowest-ever score in the Women’s Asia Cup. It is also Pakistan’s lowest total in T20 internationals.
There was a large pro-India crowd at the Dubai stadium, and the spectators thoroughly enjoyed India’s bowling and fielding performance.
Pakistan’s batters had no answer to the Indian bowlers. They failed to build even a single substantial partnership and surrendered in just 18.1 overs, well before completing their 20 overs. Three batters were dismissed for ducks, five scored in single digits, and only two players managed to reach double figures. Shawal Zulfiqar top-scored with 14, while Muneeba Ali made 13.
India’s three spinners completely dismantled the Pakistan batting line-up. Shri Charani returned impressive figures of 3/7, Prema Rawat took 3/9 and Deepti Sharma claimed 2/5. Part-time spinner Shafali Verma also picked up a wicket, dismissing opener Muneeba Ali for the first breakthrough.
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana and the team’s key batters came under immense pressure from the Indian bowlers and kept losing wickets one after another. At one stage, Pakistan suffered a dramatic collapse from the first wicket through to the sixth, losing wickets at scores of 27, 28, 29, 32, 35 and 35.
Pakistan’s openers had initially dealt with the Indian bowlers reasonably well, reaching 27 in the fifth over. However, Shafali Verma struck in that over to dismiss Muneeba Ali, and that triggered Pakistan’s collapse.
Muneeba Ali was clean bowled at 27. At 28, spinner Shri Charani sent Gul Feroza back for a duck. Before Pakistan could add another run, Charani struck again, trapping Shawal Zulfiqar lbw at 29.
At 32, Shri Charani struck for the third time, having Ayesha Zafar caught. At 35, spinner Prema Rawat clean bowled Sadaf Shamas. Sadaf had barely made her way back to the dugout when Pakistan captain Fatima Sana was dismissed at the same score of 35, with Deepti Sharma trapping her lbw.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur had said at the toss: “Our bowling has been very good in this tournament, so it was good to get the opportunity to bowl first. We prefer chasing a target.”
Her assessment was emphatically justified by India’s bowlers.
Playing XIs:
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Bharati Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Shri Charani, Prema Rawat, Kranti Gaud and Nandani Sharma.
Pakistan: Fatima Sana (captain), Muneeba Ali (wicketkeeper), Shawal Zulfiqar, Gul Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas, Eman Fatima, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Yousuf and Umme-e-Hani.
Also Read – Pakistan Opt to Bat in Women’s Asia Cup; Again No Handshake, Harmanpreet Ignores Fatima Sana
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