Twitter Reactions: Bowlers, openers grant India Women commanding seven-wicket victory against Pakistan Women

India Women embarked on their Women's Asia Cup 2024 campaign with a thoroughly commanding victory over Pakistan Women.

By Rathnam Nayak

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Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma
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Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma (Source:Twitter)

Windy conditions in Dambulla prompted Nida Dar to choose to bat first, citing the dryness of the pitch. That same track had facilitated Nepal Women, who were returning to the competition after having last played in 2016, to a memorable six-wicket victory over UAE Women a few hours back. 

India, having made three alterations to their lineup from the third and final T20I of the recently-concluded series against South Africa Women, wasted no time in setting the tone with the ball. Gull Feroza was dismissed for a run-a-ball five in the second over itself. Wicketkeeper-batter, Muneeba Ali, managed to score six runs more than Feroza, but she was dismissed in a similar fashion; striking at 100 and falling to a shortish delivery from the same bowler mentioned earlier. 

With both openers back in the pavilion, it seemed as though India had firmly tightened their grip on Pakistan. Runs became increasingly difficult to obtain, a consequence of disciplined bowling and a conservative mindset among the batters. This was proven effective when Pakistan lost three wickets within the span of about eight deliveries, a collapse which included Renuka Singh taking two wickets on the final couple of deliveries of her spell to leave Pakistan in all sorts of bother at 61/6 in 13 overs. 

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However, identical scores of 22 from Tuba Hassan and Fatima Sana helped Pakistan reach a respectable total, though still subpar overall. Shreyanka Patil concluded the innings by dismissing Sadia Iqbal, resulting in Pakistan being all-out for 108 in 19.2 overs. Every other bowler claimed wickets, except for Radha Yadav, who was the only bowler to concede maximums.

The first two overs of the run-chase yielded only six runs each, but the seventh over was the next-most economical, conceding just one run. The four intervening overs, however, were a barrage of runs. Hassan’s initial over, conceding 15 runs, was merely a precursor to her tumultuous second. She was subjected to a relentless onslaught from Smriti Mandhana, who finally found her tempo and struck four boundaries within that over.

However, it was not destined for Mandhana to achieve her 25th T20I half-century. Syeda Aroob Shah secured Pakistan's first breakthrough in her first over. Mandhana advanced down the pitch but failed to achieve the necessary elevation, resulting in a sharp chance that was seized at short midwicket. By the conclusion of that over, India required a modest 23 runs to win from the remaining ten overs.

A trio of consecutive fours by Dayalan Hemalatha off Nashra Sandhu propelled India nearer to their target. Despite a few tight overs that saw a wicket fall in each, it was evident that Pakistan's fate was sealed. Pakistan Women succumbed to their twelfth defeat in 15 T20I encounters against their arch-rivals, as India Women secured a comprehensive victory by seven wickets with 35 deliveries to spare.

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Women's Asia Cup 2024India WomenPakistan WomenSmriti MandhanaShafali VermaRenuka SinghNida DarSana FatimaShreyanka PatilSadia IqbalWomens Cricket