Women's T20 World Cup: India fend off resurgent Pakistan to secure maiden win

Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Harmanpreet Kaur's India secured their maiden win of the tournament after beating Pakistan by six wickets on Sunday in Dubai.

In Short

• India beat Pakistan by 6 wickets in Dubai
• Arundhati Reddy picked up 3 wickets
• Harmanpreet Kaur scored 29 runs off 24 balls

India fought hard and beat Pakistan to secure their maiden win in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. On Sunday (October 6), Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. won by six wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and made amends after their massive 58-run defeat at the hands of Sophie Devine’s New Zealand in their opening game.

With the win, India improved their net run rate to -1.22 from -2.900, but it’s still lower than Australia’s +1.908 and the White Ferns’ +2.900. India will be looking to up their NRR further when they face Chamari Athapaththu’s Sri Lanka on September 9 in Dubai. Pakistan, in the meantime, stayed in third despite their loss against India.

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Arundhati, Shreyanka hold back Pakistan

After opting to bat first, Pakistan could hardly get off first gear as they huffed and puffed their way to 105 for the loss of eight wickets. Renuka Singh Thakur took India off to an incredible start after dismissing Gull Feroza for a four-ball duck in the first over. Sidra Amin and Omaima Sohail failed to go beyond single digits after Deepti Sharma and Arundhati Reddy dismissed them respectively.

Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Pakistan’s only centurion in Women’s T20Is, tried to put her head down. But Shreyanka Patil got her out stumped after the left-hander scored 17 runs off 26 balls with two fours. Nida Dar steadied the ship for Pakistan with a 28-run knock off 34 balls before Reddy castled her. At the half-way mark, Pakistan found themselves at 41 for four.

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In the 14th over, Fatima Sana tried to inject some momentum into the innings, hitting leg-spinner Asha Sobhana for back-to-back fours. But Sobhana dismissed her soon after thanks to a stupendous catch from Richa Ghosh, who stuck out her right hand to take a stupendous reflex catch.

Syed Aroob Shah, who replaced the injured Diana Baig, made 14 off 17, adding crucial runs for Pakistan in the death overs. For India, Reddy was the standout performer with figures of 4-0-19-3. Shreyanka Patil took two wickets for 12 runs while Renuka, Deepti and Asha got one wicket apiece.

India struggle their way home

India had their fair share of troubles in their run-chase. Smriti Mandhana struggled throughout and got out after scoring seven off 16 balls. Left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal dismissed her after Mandhana chipped one straight into the hands of Tuba Hassan. From there on, Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues carried the innings with a handy partnership of 43 runs for the second wicket.

Shafali struggled early on in her innings before stepping on the accelerator with a couple of fours. But she ran out of luck after Sohail dismissed her. Shafali tried to go downtown, but Muneeba at long-on took a simple catch. Jemimah struggled to get going after she could not hit a single four in her 23-run knock, before Fatima Sana found her outside edge.

In the same over, Fatima sent back Richa for a golden duck and brought Pakistan right back into the match. With the required rate nearing a run-a-ball, the onus was on Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma to take India past the finish line in a tense run-chase in Dubai.

Harmanpreet scored 29 runs to take India within touching distance, but retired hurt after facing discomfort on her neck. In the end, Sajeevan Sajana, who replaced Pooja Vastrakar, hit the winning four as India chased down the target with seven balls left.