Women's T20 World Cup: Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma star as India beat Pakistan
Context:
India opened their T20 World Cup Group One campaign with a 64-run win over Pakistan at Edgbaston. Smriti Mandhana blasted 68 from 44 balls to anchor a 170-6 innings, while Deepti Sharma claimed 5-10 to dismantle Pakistan for 106 in 17 overs after a mid-innings lull. India battled early in the chase, slipping to 18-2, but Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur stitched a 91-run stand before Mandhana perished, and a late blast from Deepti and Richa Ghosh sealed the target. Pakistan, led by Fatima Sana, stalled in the chase as India’s bowlers responded with disciplined lines and key wickets, including Sree Charan’s 3-21. The result places India among the early group leaders alongside Australia, with Pakistan’ qualification path becoming more challenging; further fixtures loom.
Dive Deeper:
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and chose to bat, but the innings began poorly as the side slipped to 18-2 after four overs, with Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues dismissed cheaply.
Smriti Mandhana then took control, surviving two drops (at 27 and 55) and compiling a 91-run partnership with Harmanpreet to pivot India from danger to a dominant total of 170-6.
Mandhana finished with 68 off 44, hitting nine fours and two sixes, and was out at long-on after anchoring the middle overs.
Deepti Sharma delivered a decisive all-round performance, taking the first two Pakistan wickets and later returning to dismiss the last three, finishing with 5-10 as Pakistan were bowled out for 106 in 17 overs.
Pakistan’s chase stumbled from the start of the powerplay, and Fatima Sana’s side collapsed in the middle and late overs, with the final seven wickets costing 31 runs and Sree Charan recording 3-21 for India.
Richa Ghosh joined the late assault, contributing 38 off the final 12 balls along with Deepti to stretch the finishing margin and seal the win.
The victory places India in a strong early position in Group One alongside Australia, while Pakistan now faces an uphill battle to qualify from a pool that also includes South Africa.