T20 World Cup, Group 1, Edgbaston
India scored 170-6 in their 20 overs, with Smriti Mandhana contributing 68 runs off 44 balls. Fatima Sana took 2 wickets for 33 runs.
Pakistan were bowled out for 106 runs in 17 overs. Muneeba scored 41 runs off 35 balls, while Deepti Sharma took 5 wickets for just 10 runs.
Smriti Mandhana played a pivotal role, hitting a 34-ball half-century, while Deepti Sharma’s exceptional bowling performance helped India secure a 64-run victory over their arch-rivals Pakistan in the opening match of Group One.
Mandhana was dropped twice during her innings, which included nine fours and two sixes, helping India post a competitive total of 170-6.
Pakistan began their innings strongly, reaching 52-1 by the end of the powerplay. However, all-rounder Deepti Sharma took the first two wickets for India and later returned to dismiss the last three batters, bowling out Pakistan well before the completion of their 20 overs.
Fatima Sana’s team lost their final seven wickets for just 31 runs, being bowled out with three overs remaining. Leg-spinner Sree Charani also contributed significantly by taking 3 wickets for 21 runs.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat first, but early wickets fell as Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues were dismissed cheaply for six and one runs respectively, leaving India at 18-2 within four overs.
Mandhana steadied the innings, but was dropped twice: once on 27 runs at mid-off when the score was 44-2, and again on 55 runs as India approached the 100-run mark.
The 29-year-old then forged a 91-run partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur before being caught by Pakistan captain Fatima Sana at long-on.
Pakistan managed to contain India’s scoring for several overs, but Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh accelerated the innings by scoring 38 runs in the last 12 balls, setting a challenging target that Pakistan could not match.
India’s victory places them alongside Australia, who also won their opening match, as strong contenders in Group One. Pakistan now face a difficult path to qualify from a group that also includes South Africa.
- Bangladesh avoid upset to edge past Netherlands
- West Indies beat holders New Zealand in thriller
- Australia begin World Cup with win over South Africa
For notifications, social media updates and more, visit .
