Match 5, Birmingham, July 31, 2022, 03:30 PM
Pakistan Women
99/10(18.0ov)
India Women
102/2(11.4ov)
India Women beat Pakistan Women by 8 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Commentry
Right then, the first game is done and it is India Women who have kept their semi-final hopes well and truly alive. In the next game of the day, two winning teams, Australia Women and Barbados Women clash at 10.30 pm IST (5 pm GMT). Our build-up though will begin much sooner. The winner of that game will move on to 4 points and take an outright lead in Group A at the end of the second round of fixtures. See you then. Cheers!
Earlier in the game, Bismah Maroof won the toss and opted to bat under overcast conditions. This did not prove to be the best decision and even though Muneeba Ali and Bismah Maroof put on a good second-wicket partnership, their batting order just collapsed as soon as those two got out. The Indian spinners dominated with Sneh Rana controlling the middle overs well and Sneh Rana ending things off well too. With a low target to chase down and having already lost a game, India Women openers came out all guns blazing and Smriti Mandhana just took the game away from the opposition with a blistering knock of 63* off just 42 balls to seal the victory.
Pakistan Women had their work cut out with the ball but after a decent first couple of overs, their bowlers were put to the sword by Smriti Mandhana. They were defending a low score and needed wickets up top but that never happened. Diana Baig bowled well at the start and Omaima Sohail was more than useful with her off-spinners, picking up a wicket as well. Tuba Hassan too got a wicket but other than that there were no positives with the ball for them. Pakistan Women have been handed a huge defeat here and with their net run rate taking a hit, their chances of making it to the knockouts have almost completely perished.
At the innings interval, India Women would have been very happy with their bowling and fielding efforts and their batting has matched that as well. Needing just 100 runs to win in 108 deliveries, Smriti Mandhana was aggressive from the get-go and Shafali Verma too started briskly. The pair scored 50 plus runs inside the Powerplay and the back of the chase was broken then and there. Verma fell but Mandhana went on to score her third T20I Fifty and remained unbeaten in the end.
Smriti Mandhana with a power-packed innings and India Women have made short work of this chase, winning the game with 38 balls to spare. With this big victory, India Women have got right back in the mix for the knockouts. As for Pakistan Women, they are all but out of the competition.
In over# 12
4
1
0
1
Fatima Sana 21/0(2.4)
11.4
4
FOUR! A massive victory for India. Smriti Mandhana wraps things up with a boundary. It is full and on off. Mandhana slogs it over mid-wicket and finds a boundary. INDIA WOMEN WIN THE GAME BY 8 WICKETS.
11.3
1
Fuller, on off, Jemimah Rodrigues pushes it to cover for one.
11.2
.
Full and straight, Rodrigues jams it back towards the bowler.
11.1
1
Length ball, around off, this is swung away towards deep mid-wicket for one by Mandhana.
In over# 11
1
1
0W
0
2
0
Omaima Sohail 20/1(3)
10.6
1
Tossed up, full and on middle. Smriti Mandhana steps out, makes it into a full toss and drives it through covers for one.
10.5
1
On the pads, Jemimah Rodrigues turns it through mid-wicket for a single.
Jemimah Rodrigues is in next.
10.4
W
OUT! CLEANED UP! Omaima Sohail with a lovely piece of bowling and Sabbhineni Meghana walks back. Flights it up nicely, on a length and around off. Meghana steps down the track but doesn't quite get to the pitch of the ball as she looks to slog it away. The ball turns in and goes on to shatter the stumps. A consolation wicket here for Sohail who has bowled pretty well.
10.3
.
Fired in full and wide, Meghana swings at it but makes no connection.
10.2
2
Uppish but in the gap! Short and wide, Sabbhineni Meghana rocks back to cut but gets it off the outside edge. The ball goes past backward point but Fatima Sana chases it down and keeps it to a couple of runs.
10.1
.
This is slower and shorter, well outside off, Meghana reaches out and taps it towards point.
In over# 10
0
1
1
1
1
0
Fatima Sana 15/0(2)
9.6
.
Does well the bowler there. This is full and around off, Mandhana punches it back sweetly to the right of the bowler. Fatima Sana sticks out her right boot and makes a stop.