The Indian team began its campaign in the ICC Women’s World Cup on Sunday by defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by 107 runs in their much-awaited face-off that ended without a contest.
India won the toss and elected to bat and in-form openers Smriti Mandhana, Sneh Rana and Pooja Vastrakar hit useful half-centuries to help their team overcome the initial ups and downs and reach 244 for seven at the Bay Oval. scored runs.
Chasing a tough target of 245 runs, Pakistan were all out for 137 in 43 overs, losing their 11th game against neighboring India in the 50-over format.
Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gaikwad took a star turn with the ball, returning with excellent figures of 4/31 after her full quota of 10 overs. Veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami bowled very well to end the game with impressive figures of 2/29, while there were also two wickets for Rana (2/27), which ended his fine all-round performance.
To begin with, however, the Indians found themselves under pressure after opener Shafali Verma was dismissed for naught in the third over.
A 92-run partnership between Mandhana (52 off 75 balls) and Deepti Sharma (40 off 57) helped stabilize the ship.
However, Pakistan came back strongly, claiming a flurry of wickets including the scalps of skipper Mithali Raj (9) and her deputy Harmanpreet Kaur (5).
It didn’t bode well for Raj with Willow but wearing the India jersey on Sunday, the veteran 39-year-old became the third cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar and Javed Miandad to play in six World Cups. The first woman to achieve the feat.
Raj, however, would take his strides to dismiss him cheaply as his team achieved the result it sought.
After the early dismissal of Shafali, the pair of Mandhana and Deepti first stabilized the innings and then laid a foundation for Rana and Vastrakar to take their team close to 250.
Rana (53 not out) and Vastrakar (67) put on a vital 122-run partnership – the highest for the seventh wicket in an ICC Women’s World Cup – to help India extend the total.
From Pakistan’s point of view, the stand between Rana and Vastrakar hit them hard as they were hoping to restrict India to 116 for four at a time.
Mandhana and Deepti were dismissed within a few overs of each other. Deepti missed a sweep and was bowled by Nashra Sundhu for 40, and Mandhana gave a comeback catch to Anam Amin after 13 balls.
The rest of the batsmen failed to build on the foundation laid by Mandhana and Deepti as players like Raj, Kaur and Richa Ghosh fell early leaving their team in trouble.
Pakistan had their tails up at that stage of the game, but batting down the order, Rana and Vastrakar had other ideas and displayed immense patience to get India out of trouble.
Spinners Nida Dar (2/45) and Nashra Sandhu (2/36) took two wickets each for Pakistan.
In reply, Pakistan were bundled out for 78 for five at the halfway point of their innings, 167 runs away from a win.
India were rewarded for some hard bowling as they restricted Pakistan to just 26 for no loss at the end of the powerplay.
As Javeria Khan was dismissed in the 11th over, the pressure mounted on the openers, who were trying to take the air route.
After that, the Indian spinners continued to keep a lid on the scoring, with Deepti and Rana taking crucial wickets of Pakistan skipper Bismah Maroof and Omaima Sohail respectively.
Goswami then swung into action, dismissed settled Sidra Amin, who was caught behind. Jhulan struck again in his next over to dismiss Dar for 4 as Pakistan suffered a massive defeat.
It was nice to see Jhulan working hard and giving everything for his team even after all these years.
This is Pakistan’s 15th defeat while chasing in Women’s World Cup games.
,With inputs from PTI
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