A majestic five-wicket haul from Deepti Sharma powered India to a commanding 64-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in their Women's T20 World Cup opening fixture on Sunday in Birmingham.
Sharma finished with remarkable figures of 5/10 as Pakistan were bowled out for 106 in 17 overs while chasing 171.
India's Spin Trio Dominates
India's spinners completely stifled Pakistan's chase, with the batters unable to counter their relentless variations. The spin trio of Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma and Shree Charani combined to claim nine wickets in India's emphatic victory.
Chasing 171, Pakistan got off to a positive start through openers Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza, collecting eight runs from the first over. However, Shreyanka Patil applied the brakes in the second over with a disciplined spell, conceding just three runs.
The Pakistani openers responded aggressively, taking on Kranti Gaud in the next over and smashing 14 runs. They continued their attacking approach against Patil as well, striking 12 runs off her following over to keep the scoreboard moving.
Deepti's Breakthrough
Just when Pakistan were looking to dig in, Deepti Sharma gave India the breakthrough in her first over. Gull Feroza attempted a reverse sweep but ended up scooping it to Bhatri Fulmali at backward point. In the next over, she dismissed Ayesha Zafar, who was playing her first T20 World Cup game in eight years.
Muneeba Ali was dropped on 6 and again on 20. But Deepti Sharma made no mistake, running out Muneeba with a direct hit, sending Pakistan's leading run scorer packing for 35 in the 10th over.
Pakistan suffered a dramatic collapse, slumping from 75/4 to 91/7 in the space of just 3.4 overs as India's bowlers tightened their grip. Deepti Sharma then put the finishing touches on a dominant display, claiming three wickets in her final over to bowl Pakistan out.
India's Innings
Earlier, a half-century from Smriti Mandhana and late fireworks from Richa Ghosh helped India overcome early setbacks to post 170/6 in 20 overs.
Opting to bat first, India endured a shaky start before Mandhana (68) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (36) combined for a rescue act. While a late cluster of wickets shifted momentum back toward Pakistan, Richa Ghosh's 17-ball 34 helped India post a solid total.
India's intentions were clear from the opening delivery when Shafali Verma smashed left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal for a six. However, the joy was short-lived as Iqbal took immediate revenge four balls later, inducing an outside edge from Verma (6), which was pocketed by wicketkeeper Muneeba Ali.
Number three, Jemimah Rodrigues, struggled to find fluency during her brief 7-ball stay. Attempting to break the shackles against Tasmia Rubab, Rodrigues (1) mistimed a lofted shot, offering a skyer to Natalia Pervaiz, leaving India stuttering at 20/2 in 4 overs.
With pressure mounting, the veteran pair of Mandhana and Harmanpreet stitched together a vital partnership. Mandhana, in superb touch from the onset, spearheaded the counter-attack, pacing her innings beautifully with 9 boundaries and 2 sixes in a 44-ball 68.
At the other end, Harmanpreet played the supporting act, rotating strike and accumulating singles. The duo neutralized Pakistan's spin threat through the middle overs, pushing the score past 100 in 13 overs.
Just as India looked set for a big score at 109/2 in 13.4 overs, Pakistan clawed back. Rameen Shamim dismissed Mandhana in the 14th over, breaking the 91-run partnership. Sadia Iqbal returned to remove Bharti Fulmali (1) in the 15th over. After 15 overs, India stood at 117/4.
Harmanpreet followed soon after, scoring 36 off 35 balls as Fatima Sana took the fifth wicket to reduce India to 129/5 in 17 overs.
When it looked like India might not cross 150, Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma combined for a quickfire 45-run stand off 21 balls to guide the Women in Blue to 170/6. They accumulated 23 runs off the 19th over bowled by Tasmia Rubab. While Richa got dismissed in the last over, India added 15 runs. Richa made 34 off 17 balls with five fours and a six, and Deepti remained unbeaten on 12 off nine balls.
