So, it’s a wrap from second game of Women’s Asia Cup. India’s bowlers displayed remarkable teamwork to secure a dominant seven-wicket win against Pakistan in their opening match of the Women’s Asia Cup in Dambulla. The Indian team bowled out Pakistan for a modest 108 and chased down the target with ease, thanks to a strong start by openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma.
Vastrakar Leads with Short-Ball Strategy
Pooja Vastrakar was instrumental in applying early pressure on Pakistan. With Renuka Singh back in the lineup, India utilized five overs of pace during the powerplay. Despite conceding a boundary in her first over, Vastrakar persisted with short-pitched deliveries, leading to early breakthroughs.
In the second over, Vastrakar dismissed Gull Feroza, who mistimed a pull shot to mid-on, where Harmanpreet Kaur took a comfortable catch. Vastrakar continued her short-ball strategy and claimed the wicket of Muneeba Ali in her next over, with Ali top-edging a ball to Jemimah Rodrigues in the covers. This left Pakistan struggling at 26 for 2.
Powerful Start by Shafali and Mandhana
India’s opening pair, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, provided a stark contrast to Pakistan’s innings with a blazing start. They scored 57 runs during the powerplay, making the most of the same pitch used earlier for the tournament opener between Nepal and UAE. The duo quickly adapted to the slow nature of the pitch and took advantage of Pakistan’s inconsistent bowling.
Shafali set the tone with a flick to square leg for four in the first over.
She continued to exploit short deliveries, cutting and pulling them to the boundary. Shafali’s aggressive approach saw her score 35 off 22 balls by the end of the powerplay.
Mandhana complemented Shafali with elegant cover drives and powerful backfoot punches. She accelerated in the eighth over, hitting five fours off leg-spinner Tuba Hassan. Although Mandhana fell short of her 25th T20I fifty, her 45 off 25 balls laid a solid foundation for India’s chase.
Pakistan’s Struggles and Deepti’s Comeback
Pakistan’s innings faltered after a promising start. At the halfway mark, they were 53 for 3, with Sidra Amin and Nida Dar at the crease. However, they failed to build a significant partnership. Deepti Sharma’s introduction in the 12th over proved pivotal. Dar’s attempt to loft Deepti ended in a catch to long-on, and Pakistan’s collapse accelerated.
Renuka Singh added to Pakistan’s woes with two wickets in consecutive deliveries, removing Sidra for 25 and trapping Iram Javed lbw. Pakistan found themselves at a precarious 61 for 6 in the 13th over.
Although Tuba Hassan and Fatima Sana offered some resistance with scores of 22 each, it was not enough to pose a challenge. Deepti’s final over saw three wickets fall, including a run-out by Radha Yadav. Deepti’s figures of 3 for 20 earned her the Player of the Match award.
India’s comprehensive performance, marked by disciplined bowling and aggressive batting, ensured a convincing win over Pakistan. The victory set a positive tone for India’s campaign in the Women’s Asia Cup, highlighting their dominance and team effort.
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