ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: Six-wicket win for India over Pakistan

It was India’s eighth win in nine women’s T20 international games against Pakistan. Incidentally, it was also India’s third consecutive win against its neighbours in the women’s T20 World Cup.

Indian Women claim victory against Pakistan at the ICC T20 Women's World Cup. / X/BCCI

Shefali Varma and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur turned match-winning batters for India as it defeated its arch-rival and neighbour Pakistan by six wickets in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on Oct. 6.

Earlier, Indian bowlers restricted Pakistan to 105 for eight in the stipulated 20 overs before hammering home with six wickets and seven balls to spare.

It was India’s eighth win in nine women’s T20 international games against Pakistan. Incidentally, it was also India’s third consecutive win against its neighbours in the women’s T20 World Cup.

Only time India was beaten by Pakistan in recent times was in the 2022 Asia Cup when it lost by 13 runs.

It was India’s first win in two matches while for Pakistan it was its first loss in as many matches in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Pakistan had defeated Sri Lanka by 31 runs in its opening match while India lost its opening match to New Zealand by 58 runs.

After a heavy loss to New Zealand, India could not afford to slip up against its big rivals.

With some fine bowling by Arundhati Reddy, Indian women could easily ease to an important win, with Pakistan only making 105 for eight from its 20 overs.

In reply, India was never able to cut loose, but good running and some stable partnerships saw it home, with Shafali Verma (32) and Harmanpreet Kaur (29) making valuable contributions in the chase. Harmanpreet retired hurt after steering her team close to the victory target.

Good win for the Women in Blue against Pakistan in the #T20WorldCup! Our girls used the conditions to perfection in the first half, and a special mention to @reddyarundhati for her 3-wicket haul! On to the next fixture, where we aim to secure back-to-back wins! @BCCIWomen pic.twitter.com/AtJaB7bj7G
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) October 6, 2024

Having won the toss, Pakistan elected to bat but found itself in early trouble with Renuka Singh removing Gull Feroza in the very first over. Deepti Sharma then got in on the act, as she found a way through Sidra Amin’s (8) defences.

Reddy was the pick of the Indian bowlers, finishing with figures of three for 19, with her first victim Omaima Sohail, who miscued a slower delivery straight to Shafali Verma, leaving Pakistan at 34 for three after seven overs.

That brought Nida Dar to the crease but with the run-rate stalling, Muneeba Ali tried to pick up the pace, only to be stumped by Richa Ghosh for 17 off the bowling of Shreyanka Patil.

Reddy was next to strike, removing Aliya Riaz leg before for four and at 52 for five, Fatima Sana had a big job to do. She showed intent, including back-to-back boundaries off Asha Sobhana before she fell to a sensational catch by Ghosh behind the stumps, going for 13.

Patil had Tuba Hassan caught at fine leg for a duck in a miserly spell of two for 12 from her four overs. But while Reddy finally did for Nida (28) in the final over, six runs off the last two balls from Nashra Sandhu, gave Pakistan some momentum as it reached 105 in the stipulated 20 overs.

In response, India started steadily, but with boundaries hard to come by, Smriti Mandhana tried to force the pace and was caught for seven off 16 deliveries off the bowling of Sadia Iqbal.

Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues observed caution before starting to raise the tempo. But just as she seemed to be cutting loose, Verma could not quite clear the boundary at long on, and was caught for 32 off Omaima, leaving India 61 for two after a stand of 43.

Despite the hit their net run-rate took against New Zealand, India did not take too many chances in the chase, although Rodrigues fell for 23 while trying to play a big shot off Fatima, with 26 still to get.

And Fatima removed Ghosh in the same manner next ball, caught behind for a duck. Sharma survived the hat-trick ball, and she and Kaur took India to the brink before the skipper had to retire hurt after injuring herself in the penultimate over.

Sajana Sajeevan came in with two to get and hit her first delivery for four to seal the win for India.

Pakistan 105 for eight in 20 overs (Nida Dar 28, Muneeba Ali 17; Arundhati Reddy 3/19, Shreyanka Patil 2/12)

India 108 for four in 18.5 overs (Shafali Verma 32, Harmanpreet Kaur 29 retired hurt; Fatima Sana 2/23, Omaima Sohail 1/17)