In a thrilling encounter on Sunday (October 6), India claimed their first victory in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 by defeating Pakistan by six wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This win came after a heavy loss to New Zealand in their opening match, giving India a significant morale boost.
India’s Bowling Dominates
Opting to bat first, Pakistan struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack, managing only 105/8 in their 20 overs. Renuka Singh Thakur set the tone by dismissing Gull Feroza for a duck in the very first over. Other Pakistani batters like Sidra Amin and Omaima Sohail couldn’t make an impact, falling early. Muneeba Ali Siddiqui and Nida Dar offered some resistance, but they couldn’t build on their starts.
Arundhati Reddy was the star for India, finishing with figures of 3/19, while Shreyanka Patil also contributed by taking two wickets for just 12 runs. Pakistan’s innings never gathered momentum, with Aroob Shah’s 14 off 17 being one of the few contributions in the lower order.
India’s Struggle in the Chase
India faced their own struggles while chasing the modest target. Smriti Mandhana fell cheaply for 7, and despite a steady partnership between Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues, the run-chase was far from smooth. Shafali’s aggressive intent was cut short, and Jemimah couldn’t find her rhythm, scoring just 23 runs without a boundary.
India bring their Women's #T20WorldCup 2024 campaign back on track with a win over Pakistan 👏#WhateverItTakes #INDvPAK
📝: https://t.co/haYMwbKe4X pic.twitter.com/Y4608fYHjZ
— ICC (@ICC) October 6, 2024
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Fatima Sana’s double strike, removing both Jemimah and Richa Ghosh, brought Pakistan back into the contest, putting pressure on India. However, Harmanpreet Kaur’s composed 29 and Deepti Sharma’s steady hand helped India inch closer to the target. Harmanpreet had to retire hurt due to neck discomfort, but Sajeevan Sajana, stepping in for Pooja Vastrakar, hit the winning boundary with seven balls remaining, sealing the victory.
What’s Next?
India’s win has improved their net run rate, though it remains lower than New Zealand and Australia. The team will now focus on further improving their NRR when they face Sri Lanka on October 9 in Dubai. Pakistan, despite the loss, remains third in the standings.
Also Read: Rohit Sharma Credits Rishabh Pant’s Masterplan For India’s Triumph Over South Africa In T20 WC Final
