DUBAI: An all-round performance by India helped them secure a six-wicket victory over Pakistan in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 encounter at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
The win marked India’s first triumph in the tournament, after a solid batting and bowling display that restricted Pakistan to a modest total.
Pakistan, led by captain Fatima Sana, won the toss and opted to bat first, a decision that quickly backfired as the team struggled to build momentum. The Green Shirts were restricted to 105/8 in their 20 overs.
Pakistan’s innings began on a disastrous note when opener Gull Feroza was dismissed in the very first over. Things went from bad to worse as Sidra Amin and Omaima Sohail followed suit, leaving Pakistan at 33/3 by the seventh over.
Muneeba Ali attempted to steady the ship with a cautious 17, but her dismissal by Shreyanka Patil left Pakistan in further trouble at 41/4.
All-rounder Aliya Riaz was unable to make an impact, falling cheaply to Arundhati Reddy. Skipper Fatima Sana and veteran Nida Dar tried to salvage the innings, with Dar putting up a fight with a 34-ball 28.
However, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, and Pakistan was left reeling. Syeda Aroob Shah contributed a 17-ball 14, helping Pakistan reach 105/8 by the end of their innings.
India’s bowlers were clinical throughout, with Arundhati Reddy being the standout performer, taking three wickets. Shreyanka Patil claimed two, while Renuka Singh, Deepti Sharma, and Asha Sobhana picked up one wicket each.
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In response, India chased down the target of 106 with relative ease, finishing at 108/4 in 18.4 overs. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave India a solid start, putting Pakistan’s bowlers under pressure early on.
Deepti Sharma (24*) and Harmanpreet Kaur (18) played crucial knocks to guide India home, securing a comfortable six-wicket win.
Pakistan’s captain Fatima Sana expressed disappointment in her team’s performance but remained optimistic about bouncing back in the tournament. “We didn’t perform as expected, especially with the bat. We’ll analyze the mistakes and come back stronger in the next match,” she said in a post-match interview.
India’s victory followed their defeat against New Zealand in the opening match, providing them with a much-needed morale boost. Pakistan, meanwhile, will have to regroup after their earlier victory against Sri Lanka in the tournament.
