Dambulla, Sri Lanka – In a spectacular showdown, the Indian women’s cricket team crushed Pakistan by seven wickets in their Group A opener of the Women’s Asia Cup T20 2024 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Friday.
Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma lit up the stadium with a breathtaking 85-run partnership. Mandhana’s explosive 45 off 31 balls, highlighted by five boundaries in a single over, and Verma’s blazing 40 off 29 balls ensured India’s dominance from the very start.
After winning the toss, Pakistan elected to bat but found themselves struggling against India’s formidable bowling attack. Pooja Vastrakar’s early strikes dismantled Pakistan’s opening pair, setting the tone for the rest of the innings. Deepti Sharma was the star with the ball, claiming 3 wickets for just 20 runs. Sidra Amin’s 25 was the highest score for Pakistan, while Tuba Hassan and Fatima Sana contributed 22 runs each to push the total to 108.
Chasing 109, Mandhana and Verma’s electrifying start left Pakistan reeling. Despite losing a few wickets in the middle overs, India remained in control. Dayalan Hemalatha’s quick 14 off 11 balls, along with steady contributions from Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, ensured a comfortable victory with 35 balls to spare.
This emphatic win propels India to the top of Group A, setting a strong tone for their next match against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday. With such a comprehensive performance, India is well-poised to make a serious bid for the Women’s Asia Cup T20 2024 title.
India’s seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in their Women’s Asia Cup T20 2024 opener at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium highlights their dominance and places them at the top of Group A.
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