India women beat Pakistan Women by six wickets in the seventh fixture of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) on Sunday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
This was Pakistan’s first defeat in the ongoing mega event, while India claimed their first win.
Chasing a modest 106 to win, India achieved the target for loss of four wickets in the 19th over. India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur played a responsible innings and scored 29 off 24 balls including a four. Opening batter Shafali Verma top-scored with a 35-ball 32, hitting three fours. Jemimah Rodrigues was other notable run-getter for the winning team with a 28-ball 23.
Captain Fatima Sana was the most successful bowler for Pakistan, bagging two wickets for 23 runs in her four overs, while Omaima Sohail and Sadia Iqbal snapped a wicket each.
Earlier, after opting to bat first, Pakistan managed to score 105 for eight in their allotted 20 overs. Former captain Nida Dar top-scored for the side with 28 off 34 balls including a four. That Pakistan were able to get past the 100-run mark was due to a 28-run partnership between Nida and Syeda Aroob Shah (14 not out, 17b, 1x4) for the eighth wicket.
Wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali (17, 26b, 2x4s) and Fatima (13, 8b, 2x4s) were the other batters to reach double figures.
For India, Arundhati Reddy bagged three wickets for 19 from four overs, while Shreyanka Patil took two wickets for 12 runs.
Pakistan will now take on the defending champions Australia on Friday, 11 October. The first ball of the match is expected to be bowled at 1900 PKT.
Scores in brief:
India beat Pakistan by six wickets
Pakistan 105-8, 20 overs (Nida Dar 28, Muneeba Ali 17, Syeda Aroob Shah 14 not out; Arundhati Reddy 3-19, Shreyanka Patil 2-12)
India 108-4, 18.5 overs (Shafali Verma 32, Harmanpreet Kaur 29; Fatima Sana 2-23) Player of the match – Arundhati Reddy (India)
Pakistan’s next fixture: 11 October vs Australia (1900 PKT); Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
AFP adds:
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur produced a steely 29 to steer her side to a scrappy six-wicket victory over Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday.
Set 106 to win after restricting Pakistan to 105-8 in their 20 overs, India were looking comfortable at 61-1. But two wickets in two balls by Pakistan captain Fatima Sana opened the door before Kaur took her side to the brink of victory.
With India two runs short, however, she slipped and appeared to rick her neck, leaving the field unbeaten on 29 from 24 balls.
Sajeevan Sajana hit the winning runs from the next delivery as India closed on 108-4, winning with seven balls to spare.
"We have been very disciplined, followed the plans," said India's Smriti Mandhana. "In the field we were very good. Better start with the bat would have been good, but we will take that win."
Nida Dar top-scored for Pakistan with 28 from 34 balls but there was little else to cheer after Fatima had won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that produced some awkward bounce.
"We were not up to the mark in the batting. We were 10-15 runs short," said Fatima.
All of the Indian bowlers contributed with Arundhati Reddy the most succesful as she removed Omaima Sohail (3) and Aliya Riaz (4) in the middle order before clean bowling Dar in the final over to finish with 3-19 from her four overs.
"I've worked a lot on my T20 bowling in all stages of the innings. I'm still working hard now. I kept it simple and attacked the stumps," said Reddy who was named Player of the Match.
India lost Mandhana for seven but Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues took them to 61 before the second wicket fell in the 12th over.
Verma, their impressive 20-year-old opener, struck three fours in a 35-ball 32 before holing out to mid-on.
That gave Pakistan a sniff of a chance but Kaur made sure India made it 13 wins from 16 against Pakistan in T20Is.
After losing their opening match to New Zealand, this was a much-needed win for India in Group A. They remain fourth in the group, with Pakistan just ahead of them on net run rate.
India face Sri Lanka in the next game in Dubai on Wednesday while Pakistan meet favourites Australia on Friday.
West Indies face Scotland in Sunday's late game in Dubai with both sides having lost their Group B openers.