The Indian women’s cricket team registered a significant win in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, keeping their semi-final hopes alive with a strong performance against arch-rivals Pakistan. After a tough loss to New Zealand in their opening match, Team India bounced back and restricted Pakistan to just 105 runs. India successfully chased the target in 18.5 overs, winning the match by 6 wickets in Dubai.
This victory is a morale booster for India, who still have two crucial league matches ahead—against Sri Lanka on October 9th and against defending champions Australia on October 13th.
India’s Bowling Dominates Pakistan’s Batting Line-up
Pakistan’s innings never really got going, as they were restricted to a modest total of 105 for 8 in their 20 overs. Indian bowlers Shreyanka Patil and Arundhati Reddy delivered economical and impressive performances, tightening the screws on Pakistan’s batters early on.
Arundhati Reddy, who took 3 wickets for just 19 runs in her 4 overs, delivered her best performance in T20 Internationals. Shreyanka Patil was equally effective, picking up 2 wickets while conceding only 12 runs in her 4-over spell. Their disciplined bowling effort didn’t allow Pakistan to gain any momentum during the innings.
Renuka Singh, Deepti Sharma, and Sobhana Asha also contributed by claiming one wicket each. Pakistan’s batting woes continued, as their top order crumbled under pressure. Nida Dar was the only notable contributor, scoring 28 runs off 34 balls with one boundary, while opener Muniba Ali managed 17 runs off 26 balls.
Renuka Singh set the tone early, dismissing Gul Firoza for a duck in the very first over, while Deepti Sharma followed up with the dismissal of Sidra Amin (8) in the powerplay. Pakistan struggled to recover from these early blows, reaching only 41 for 4 at the halfway mark.
Pakistan’s Late Fightback Falls Short
Pakistan’s middle-order batters attempted to build partnerships but were unable to break free from India’s tight bowling. Arundhati Reddy struck again, dismissing Omaima Sohail (3) and Alia Riaz (4), leaving Pakistan struggling at 56 for 5 in the 13th over.
A brief flurry from Pakistan captain Fatima Sana provided some relief, as she hit two consecutive boundaries off Sobhana Asha. However, her aggressive approach led to her downfall, as Richa Ghosh took a brilliant catch behind the stumps, ending her cameo of 13 runs from 8 balls.
Pakistan crossed the 100-run mark in the final over, thanks to a boundary from Syeda Arub Shah (14*). But their total of 105 runs was always going to be a difficult one to defend against a strong Indian batting line-up.
India’s Calm Chase Anchored by Jemimah and Shefali
Chasing a modest target of 106, India Women approached the innings with patience. Though opener Smriti Mandhana fell cheaply for 7 runs, caught by Tuba Hasan off Sadia Iqbal’s delivery, Shefali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues steadied the innings.
India reached 50 for 1 after 10 overs, with Shefali Verma playing a measured knock of 32 runs from 35 balls. She shared a crucial partnership with Jemimah, who scored 28 runs off 23 balls. Their contributions kept the chase on track despite the loss of Shefali in the 12th over.
The middle-order wobble that saw Jemimah and Richa Ghosh (0) dismissed in quick succession created a slight scare for India. However, captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s calm presence at the crease helped stabilize the innings. Harmanpreet played a composed innings of 29 runs before retiring hurt. By the time she left the field, India was well on their way to victory, needing just a few more runs to seal the win.
India finally chased down the target in 18.5 overs, with a total score of 108 for 4.
What’s Next for India?
With this much-needed win, the Indian women’s team remains in contention for a spot in the semi-finals. Their next match against Sri Lanka on October 9 will be another must-win encounter, followed by their final league match against Australia on October 13.
The Indian bowlers, led by Arundhati Reddy and Shreyanka Patil, will be key as they look to continue their impressive form in the upcoming matches. Meanwhile, the batting unit, anchored by experienced players like Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues, will aim to build on this performance as the tournament progresses.
