India’s clinical bowling and explosive batting lead to a decisive seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the Women’s Asia Cup opener. Verma and Mandhana shine.
In a display of dominance, India secured a convincing seven-wicket victory against Pakistan at the Women’s Asia Cup opener in windy Dambulla. The match witnessed a clinical bowling performance by the defending champions, with Pakistan being bowled out for 108. The duo of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana laid the groundwork for India’s triumph with a breezy 85-run opening partnership, comfortably chasing down the target in just 14.1 overs.
This win extends India’s impressive record over Pakistan in the competition to 6-1 and to 12-3 in T20Is overall.The momentum shifted in India’s favor from the initial overs, thanks to Pooja Vastrakar’s stellar short-ball tactics that dismantled Pakistan’s top order. Renaka Singh’s reintroduction to the squad further bolstered India’s pace attack, restricting Pakistan early on.
On the batting front, Shafali and Mandhana’s aggressive play during the powerplay laid a solid foundation for India’s successful chase. Despite Pakistan’s efforts, they struggled to contain the dynamic duo, leaking boundaries through misguided lengths and lines.While Pakistan faltered with a series of quick dismissals, Deepti Sharma’s resurgence with the ball proved pivotal for India. Her crucial breakthroughs, coupled with Renuka’s swift dismissals, pushed Pakistan into a downward spiral.
A commendable performance by Deepti, ending with figures of 3 for 20, earned her the Player of the Match accolade.India’s comprehensive victory over Pakistan showcases their prowess in the Women’s Asia Cup and reaffirms their stronghold in T20 cricket.
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