Deepti Sharma returned career-best figures of 5/10 as India crushed Pakistan by 64 runs in their opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup at Edgbaston on Sunday.
After Smriti Mandhana struck a fluent 68 and Richa Ghosh provided late impetus with a brisk 34 to help India post 170/6, the bowlers took charge. Deepti and left-arm spinner N Sree Charani (3/21) shared eight wickets between them as Pakistan, despite a promising start, collapsed from 75/3 to 106 all out in 17 overs.
Pakistan raced to 52/1 in the powerplay — their highest six-over score against India in a Women’s T20 World Cup match — with Muneeba Ali leading the charge. However, India’s spinners turned the contest decisively in the middle overs, triggering a collapse that Pakistan never recovered from.
Muneeba top-scored with 41 but her run-out, effected by Deepti’s direct hit, proved to be a turning point. Deepti then ran through the lower order to complete her maiden five-wicket haul in T20 World Cups and seal a comprehensive victory for India.
Brief scores: India 170/6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 68, Harmanpreet Kaur 36, Richa Ghosh 34; Fatima Sana 2/33, Sadia Iqbal 2/41) beat Pakistan 106 all out in 17 overs (Muneeba Ali 41, Aliya Riaz 18; Deepti Sharma 5/10, N Sree Charani 3/21) by 64 runs.
IANS
