India open T20 World Cup with 64-run win over Pakistan
Deepti Sharma took 5-10 as India bowled Pakistan out for 106 at Edgbaston to start their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
India began their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign by beating Pakistan by 64 runs at Edgbaston, a result that reinforced their strong record in World Cup meetings between the teams. The Associated Press reported that Deepti Sharma took five wickets as Pakistan were bowled out for 106 while chasing 171 on Sunday in Birmingham.
India made 170 before defending the total in front of a sellout crowd that AP described as heavily pro-India. Sharma finished with 5-10, taking the final three wickets in a five-ball burst, and Shree Charani added 3-21.
The performance continued a strong run for Sharma in major matches. AP reported that she had also played a central role seven months earlier in India’s Women’s ODI World Cup final win, taking five wickets and scoring 58 runs.
Pakistan made a promising start to the chase before Sharma removed the first two wickets. By the 10th over, AP reported, India had taken control.
Muneeba Ali kept Pakistan in the contest with 41 after being dropped twice, but Sharma ran her out in the 11th over with a direct hit from backward point. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana was dismissed in the next over with the score at 77-5, and the innings faded from there.
Sharma’s five-wicket haul took her to 166 wickets, making her the leading wicket-taker in women’s T20 cricket, according to AP. “I always believe in myself, that whenever the right time comes, I will step up,” Sharma said.
India’s innings had taken time to build. AP reported that Smriti Mandhana was dropped on 27 from 24 balls, then accelerated to reach 50 from her next 10 deliveries.
Mandhana was dropped again on 55 and later top-edged a ball into her helmet, prompting a concussion check that she passed. She eventually fell after a low catch by Sana, having struck nine boundaries.
Her wicket led to a brief slide, which also included captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who made 36. India were 132-5 at the start of the 19th over before Richa Ghosh changed the finish with 34 from 17 balls.
Ghosh and Sharma took 23 runs from an over bowled by World Cup debutant Tasmia Rubab, AP reported. Sana then conceded 15 in the final over, leaving Pakistan with a target of 171.
“If it is in my hands, I would love to send [Ghosh] on the first ball,” Kaur said. “But she has a role to play, and she is doing well.”
AP reported that India have beaten Pakistan in every World Cup meeting between the teams across the 20-over and 50-over formats. It also reported that India’s players did not shake hands with Pakistan’s players for a second consecutive World Cup meeting, following the pattern set by India’s men’s team at last year’s Asia Cup.
Bangladesh complete record chase
In the other match at Edgbaston, Bangladesh beat the Netherlands by chasing 140, their highest successful chase at a Women’s T20 World Cup, according to AP. Bangladesh reached 141-4 with five balls left, passing their previous best successful World Cup chase of 126.
Juairiya Ferdous led the pursuit with 50 from 33 balls, including two sixes over midwicket. AP reported that she scored 26 of Bangladesh’s first 27 runs and had 33 of their 47 in the power play.
The Netherlands had made 139-8 after captain Babette de Leede scored 50 from 45 balls before being run out in the 17th over. AP reported that Sharmin Akhter and Shorna Akter then shared an unbeaten 56-run stand to seal Bangladesh’s fourth win in seven T20 World Cups.
Defending champions New Zealand are scheduled to play Sri Lanka on Tuesday, while hosts England face Ireland, according to AP.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.