The Indian women’s national cricket team opened their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a 64-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Chasing a target of 171, the Pakistani batting order collapsed under the pressure of a historic bowling performance from Indian off-spinner Deepti Sharma, folding for 106 in exactly 17 overs.
What We Know
- Smriti Mandhana anchored the Indian innings with a fluid 68 off 44 deliveries, striking nine boundaries and two sixes.
- After falling to 20/2 early, a 91-run third-wicket partnership between Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur stabilized the innings.
- Deepti Sharma finished with career-best figures of 5 wickets for just 10 runs in her four overs, securing Player of the Match honors.
- The five-wicket haul pushed Sharma past the milestone to become the highest all-time wicket-taker in Women’s T20 Internationals.
India won the toss and elected to bat first, but faced immediate trouble. The top order wobbled, leaving the team at a precarious 20/2. Mandhana and Kaur then took control of the run rate. Kaur added a composed 36 off 35 balls, ensuring the bowlers had a competitive target to defend. Late in the innings, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh accelerated the scoring. Ghosh delivered 34 runs off just 17 balls, pushing the final total to 170/6 at the end of the 20 overs.
Pakistan’s response showed brief promise before unraveling entirely. Opener Muneeba Ali provided the only significant resistance, scoring a solid 41 off 35 balls. The batting lineup reached 53/2 before the required run rate climbed and the middle order completely collapsed, according to a report by The Indian Express detailing the final 64-run outcome.
Sharma dismantled the middle and lower order with precision, utilizing the turn on the Edgbaston pitch to secure her record-breaking figures. Teammate Shree Charani provided crucial support from the other end, claiming three wickets for 21 runs. Pakistan was ultimately bowled out with three overs entirely unused.