India make short work of Asian rival Pakistan

Deepthi Sharma bowled beautifully in middle overs to take three wickets and Player of the Match award

India underlined their tag as favourites with a thumping seven-wicket win over Asian rivals Pakistan in their opening match of the Women’s T20 Asia Cup played under lights at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Opting to bat first on a decent track Pakistan put up a disappointing batting display to be bowled out for 108 inside the 20 overs. The target of 109 was made mincemeat by openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana as they put on 85 for the first wicket off 57 balls and at one stage it looked like a ten-wicket win. But young leggie Syeda Aroob Shah picked up a couple and Nashra Sandhu chipped in with one as India’s batters tried to finish the match off early.

Mandhana fell for classy 45 off 31 balls (9 fours) and Verma for 40 off 29 balls (6 fours, 1 six). Dayalan Hemalatha struck a few lusty blows for 14 off 11 to bring India seven runs close to the target.  

Pakistan continued to struggle with the bat in the shortest format. They were 57-3 after 11 overs but lost their way after that. Of the top seven only two batters got to double figures and the lack of strike rotation only aggravated matters. Pooja Vastrakar’s two early wickets set the tone for India and the team as they struck regularly to keep Pakistan in check. Lack of partnerships saw Pakistan lose their last six wickets for 47 with Fatima Sana’s 22* off 16 lifting them past the 100-run mark. Renuka Singh and Shreyanka Patil picked up two wickets apiece and Deepthi Sharma in the middle overs bowled splendidly to scalp three and pick up the Player of the Match award.  

Scores:

 Pakistan Women 108 (19.2) (Sidra Amin 25, Tuba Hassan 22, Fatima Sana 22*, Renuka Singh 2/14, Pooja Vastrakar 2/31, Deepthi Sharma 3/20, Shreyanka Patil 2/14)

India Women 109-3 (14.1) (Shafali Verma 40, Smriti Mandhana 45, Syeda Aroob Shah 2/9)