On the optimistic facet, India managed to get their first win of the ICC Girls’s T20 World Cup 2024, edging previous Pakistan in entrance of a great crowd on the Dubai Worldwide Stadium. However, in the long run, you couldn’t assist however marvel in the event that they missed an opportunity to enhance their Internet Run Charge, as they achieved the goal of 106 off 18.5 overs with six wickets to spare.
After batting only one match at No 3, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was again to her extra acquainted No 4 place and she or he struck a significant 24-ball 29. However what transpired earlier than that was a slow-go method from India’s high order that noticed them hit no boundaries within the powerplay. With the ball, a disciplined Indian assault restricted Pakistan to 105/8, and although the pitch was sluggish, and boundary-hitting was onerous, they may be left rueing this missed alternative to restore the harm that was attributable to New Zealand’s large win within the opener.
There could be some concern over the health of their captain too as Harmanpreet retired harm with India on the verge of victory. She walked off holding her neck after struggling to succeed in again into the crease to keep away from getting stumped.
Shafali Verma made 32 off 35 balls on the high of the order however struggled within the powerplay as did the normally free-flowing Smriti Mandhana. India managed to hit solely three boundaries within the first 17 overs of their run-chase.
Earlier, the Indian bowling unit fired in unison in opposition to a Pakistan batting lineup which additionally struggled to seek out the boundaries, however not for an absence of making an attempt. Having conceded 160 in opposition to New Zealand on a gradual monitor beneath lights of their opener, the Indian bowlers learn the pitch nicely, and extra importantly, took the tempo off deliveries to make stroke-making all of the harder.
Seamers Renuka Singh Thakur (1/23) and Arundhati Reddy (3/19) picked up the majority of the wickets, whereas off-spinners Deepti Sharma (1/24) and Shreyanka Patil (2/12) received sufficient grip to maintain the Pakistani batters in test.
Leg-spinner Asha Sobhana (1/24) went for a number of boundaries however received rival skipper Fatima Sana with an enormous leg-break after the batter was brilliantly snapped by Richa Ghosh behind the stumps. Asha, nevertheless, struggled on the sector, dropping two easy catches — each of Arundhati’s bowling.
Renuka bowled a good first over and her inswinger had Gull Feroza (0) bowled by the gate. Deepti bounced again nicely from 0/45 in opposition to New Zealand, bowling two tight overs within the powerplay. Sidra Amin (8 off 11 balls), who needed to get a transfer on, tried to slog sweep one however the ball bounced off her pads and rolled onto the stumps.
Pakistan managed 29/2 within the powerplay and the Indian bowlers elevated their stranglehold on the opposition batters. Arundhati, who was declared the participant of the match, picked up Omaima Sohail quickly after the powerplay. A wicket-maiden from Shreyanka Patil stored Pakistan to 41/4 on the midway stage. Nida Dar fought a tough battle within the center order and pushed Pakistan past 100 however it wasn’t to be sufficient.
(With inputs from PTI)
