Brief Scores: India (56/3 in 8.4 overs) beat Pakistan (55-all out in 18.1 overs) by 7 wickets in Dubai in the Women’s Asia Cup Group A match.
India were always going to start as favourites against Pakistan in the Women’s Asia Cup, and on Saturday, they played like a team fully aware of the gulf between the two sides. At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India hammered Pakistan by seven wickets in a contest that quickly became one-sided.
Much like their meeting in the Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year, India once again used spin to suffocate Pakistan’s batting. The difference this time was just how quickly Pakistan’s innings fell apart. From 27/0, they collapsed to 55 all out, losing their last 10 wickets for just 28 runs — their lowest-ever total in Women’s T20Is.
India were not flawless. They dropped catches and conceded unnecessary runs through misfields, but Pakistan were unable to capitalise on those opportunities. Once India’s spinners settled into their work, the pressure became too much for a Pakistan batting line-up that had no answers.
For Harmanpreet Kaur, it was an ideal way to mark her 150th T20I as captain. Pakistan, meanwhile, will want to forget their 200th Women’s T20I, while their defeat also extended India’s dominance in the Women’s Asia Cup to a 7-1 head-to-head record.
PAKISTAN’S PROMISING START COMES UNDONE
Pakistan initially looked capable of putting up a fight. Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar put together a steady opening partnership, surviving India’s early questions and gradually finding ways to score.
Kranti Gaud began with a wide but quickly found her rhythm, producing a superb wobble-seam delivery that beat Muneeba. India, however, were far from their best in the field. A mix-up in the covers allowed Pakistan to pick up three runs, while Pratika Rawal then put down a straightforward chance offered by Muneeba. Another misfield at mid-off added to the early frustration.
Nandani Sharma kept the openers under pressure with her round-arm action and sharp inswing, but Zulfiqar began to find her range. She lifted Nandani over mid-on for the first boundary and found the fence again soon after, while Muneeba kept the scoreboard moving.
Pakistan had made a promising start, but the platform vanished almost as quickly as it had been built.
Shafali Verma provided the breakthrough, bowling Muneeba for 13 after the Pakistan opener made too much room. That dismissal opened the floodgates.
INDIA SPINNERS TIGHTEN THE STRANGLEHOLD
Shree Charani then produced the spell that effectively broke Pakistan’s innings. She deceived Gull Feroza with flight, dip and turn before trapping Zulfiqar lbw. Ayesha Zafar followed soon after, failing to get enough elevation while attempting to clear mid-on.
Prema Rawat continued the assault with disciplined leg-spin. She initially put down a sharp return chance from Fatima Sana but made amends almost immediately, bowling Sadaf Shamas for three.
Deepti Sharma then added to Pakistan’s misery by trapping captain Fatima Sana lbw for a duck. Suddenly, Pakistan had gone from looking comfortable to fighting simply to reach a respectable total.
Their batters struggled to rotate the strike, while India’s spinners kept varying their pace and trajectory. The pressure meant Pakistan could neither build partnerships nor find the boundaries required to break free.
There was even a bizarre moment when Eyman Fatima was run out for five after Deepti initially fumbled the throw. The Indian all-rounder recovered quickly enough to break the stumps, completing another moment of pressure for Pakistan.
Rawat then removed Nashra Sandhu and Umm-e-Hani to finish with three wickets, while Charani also ended with three. Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma completed the final dismissal when Tuba Hassan was stumped for nine.
SHAFALI MAKES HISTORY
India’s chase of 56 was expected to be a formality, but Pakistan’s Fatima Sana gave her team something to celebrate by making early inroads.
Shafali, though, began exactly as one would expect. She launched Sadia Iqbal over long-off for a thunderous six off the first ball before taking a single to reach 3,000 Women’s T20I runs.
At 22 years and 220 days, Shafali became the youngest player to reach the landmark and the 16th overall. She was also only the third Indian, after Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet, to enter the 3,000-run club.
Her stay was brief, however. Fatima Sana got her caught and bowled for 12, with the ball stopping slightly after pitching and inducing a leading edge straight back to the bowler.
Pakistan struck again almost immediately. Pratika Rawal edged a back-of-a-length delivery from Fatima through to Muneeba for four. It was another disappointing outing for Rawal after her failure against Hong Kong.
Fatima had now removed both Shafali and Rawal inside two overs, giving Pakistan a brief glimpse of an unlikely opening.
Mandhana attempted to take the pressure off, lifting Sadia Iqbal over the infield for a boundary. But Fatima responded once again, producing a delivery that trapped the Indian opener lbw for nine.
India were 29/3, but with only 27 more runs required, Pakistan had very little room for error.
HARMANPREET, DEEPTI TAKE INDIA HOME
Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma made sure there would be no further drama. Rather than taking unnecessary risks, the pair rotated the strike and calmly negotiated Pakistan’s attempts to create another opening.
Pakistan tried everything they could, including some inventive field placements, but the target was simply too small. India had already qualified for the semi-finals and had no need to chase the runs at any great pace.
Harmanpreet eventually decided that the time had come to end the contest in style. She first found the boundary before stepping out to deposit the next delivery over the ropes and complete a seven-wicket victory.
India reached 57/3 in just 8.4 overs, with Harmanpreet unbeaten on 18 and Deepti finishing on 12.
The victory reinforced India’s status as one of the tournament favourites. For Pakistan, the defeat leaves little margin for error. They now face Hong Kong in what has become a must-win match if they are to progress.
India, meanwhile, will have plenty to celebrate after another commanding result, even if their fielding and top-order batting leave some areas to tidy up before the semi-finals.
– Ends
