The peerless Deepti Sharma dismantled a misfiring Pakistan with a five-wicket haul after Smriti Mandhana’s exquisite half-century, as India crushed Pakistan by 64 runs to open their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a win on Sunday.
On the back of Mandhana’s elegant 68 off 44 balls and Richa Ghosh’s powerful 34 from 17 deliveries, India posted a formidable 170 for 6.
Apart from Muneeba Ali’s 41 off 35 balls, Pakistan’s batting lacked any real bite as they were bundled out for a modest 106 in 17 overs.
Having contributed to a priceless 45-run stand with Ghosh, Deepti then shone with the ball, claiming a career-best 5 for 10 in 4 overs, while left-arm spinner Shree Charani took 3 for 21. Shafali Verma’s knack for picking up wickets further aided
India.
During her five-wicket burst, Deepti also became the highest wicket-taker in the history of Women’s T20 Internationals.
With this being the third match on the same Edgbaston surface, India benefited from bowling second, as there was turn on offer and the occasional ball gripped, preventing batters from hitting through the line. Deepti was virtually unplayable on this pitch.
Deepti also produced the standout moment in the field, with a direct hit that ended left-handed keeper-batter Muneeba’s brisk innings.
Earlier, Mandhana’s innings was the epitome of grace, and her majestic knock, combined with Ghosh’s late cameo, carried India to a winning total.
Ghosh delivered the final flourish as left-arm seamer Tasmia Rubab conceded 23 runs in the penultimate over, a spell that effectively broke Pakistan’s resistance.
Mandhana’s elegance lit up Edgbaston as she stroked the ball to the boundary with immaculate timing.
Her six off left-arm seamer Rubab oozed class. Using her feet to advance down the track, her inside-out drives for boundaries off off-spinner Rameen Shamim were a delight to watch, as she brought up her fifty in just 34 balls. Her innings featured nine fours and two sixes.
Shamim eventually dismissed Mandhana when a mistimed shot was smartly taken by skipper Fatima Sana, who judged her sliding catch perfectly.
Mandhana was well supported by her experienced captain Harmanpreet Kaur (36 off 35 balls), as the pair added 91 runs for the third wicket after early dismissals of Shafali Verma (6) and Jemimah Rodrigues (1) left India struggling at 18 for 2.
The captain and her deputy were cautious initially, with the Powerplay ending at 30 for 2, but they capitalised whenever the opportunity arose to find the boundary.
In the following seven overs, India added 70 runs, and Mandhana benefited from a couple of let-offs as Pakistan’s butter-fingered fielders spilled straightforward chances.
She was first reprieved off Rubab’s bowling when a miscued lofted shot was dropped by the mid-off fielder, who failed to hold on while running back.
On another occasion, a big hit towards wide long-on slipped through the fielder’s hands and went for six. The unfortunate bowler was left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal (2/41), one of Pakistan’s standout performers alongside skipper Fatima Sana (2/33).
While Mandhana’s footwork was a visual treat, Kaur used the depth of the crease to muscle several deliveries, employing both conventional and slog sweeps to good effect.
After Mandhana’s dismissal, India suffered a brief collapse as Bharti Fulmali (0) was promptly stumped attempting an ungainly heave, and Kaur’s flick off Sana was caught by Natalia Pervaiz at the square leg boundary.
(With PTI Inputs)
