Dambulla, 19 July 2024: Pakistan women went down to India women in their opening match of the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Sri Lanka on Friday evening.

With a modest target of 109 runs set by Pakistan, the Indian team secured victory by seven wickets with 35 balls to spare.

Batting first, Pakistan were all out for 108 in 19.2 overs, mainly relying on the 31-run partnership between Tuba Hassan and Fatima Sana, with the latter hitting two sixes in the 19th over to help Pakistan cross the 100-run mark.

Sidra Amin top-scored with 25 runs off 35 balls, while Tuba contributed 22 runs off 19 balls, including three boundaries. Fatima provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 22 off just 16 deliveries, including two sixes and a four. However, the rest of the batting line-up struggled against the Indian bowling attack.

Pakistan captain Nida Dar celebrated a personal milestone earlier in the day, as she became the first women’s cricketer from her country to play 150 T20Is. She was presented with a commemorative signed team jersey by head coach Mohammad Wasim before the start of the game.

Deepti Sharma was the pick of the Indian bowlers claiming three wickets for 20 runs. Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar and Shreyanka Patil chipped in with two wickets each for 14, 31 and 14 runs respectively.

In their chase, India’s openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana produced an 85-run partnership en route the target. It was Syeda Aroob Shah who provided the breakthrough by taking the wicket of Mandhana (45 in 31 balls).

Aroob struck again with Shafali’s wicket at for 40 and India’s score at 100. An over later, Nashra Sundhu chipped in with the wicket of Hemalatha at 14.

Afterwards, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues completed the India’s successful chase on the first ball of the 15^th over.

Scores in brief:

India won by seven wickets

Pakistan 108 all out, 19.2 overs, (Sidra Amin 25, Tuba Hassan 22, Fatima Sana 22 not out; Deepti Sharma 3-20, Renuka Singh 2-14, Shreyanka Patil 2-14, Pooja Vastrakar 2-31)

India 109-3, 14.1 overs (Smriti Mandhana 45, Shafali Verma 40, Dayalan Hemalatha 14; Syeda Aroob Shah 2-9, Nashra Sundhu 1-20)

Player of the match – Deepti Sharma (India women)

Pakistan’s next match – vs Nepal, 21 July, Dambulla