Deepti’s five-wicket masterclass powers India to 64-run win over Pakistan

India launched their Women's T20 World Cup campaign with a commanding 64-run victory over Pakistan at Edgbaston. Smriti Mandhana struck a brilliant 68 before Deepti Sharma claimed a career-best five-wicket haul to script a comprehensive triumph for the favourites

Birmingham: The peerless Deepti Sharma strangled an out-of-sync Pakistan with a five-wicket haul after Smriti Mandhana’s delectable half-century as India thrashed Pakistan by 64 runs to make a winning start to their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign here on Sunday.

Courtesy of Mandhana’s classy 44-ball 68 and Richa Ghosh’s muscular 34 off 17 balls, India posted a winning total of 170 for 6.

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Apart from Muneeba Ali’s 35-ball 41, there was no sting in Pakistan’s batting as they folded for a meagre 106 in 17 overs.

Having played her part in a priceless 45-run stand with Ghosh, Deepti was in her element with the ball, picking up a career-best 5 for 10 in four overs, while left-arm spinner Shree Charani grabbed 3 for 21. Shafali Verma’s happy knack of picking up wickets also helped India.

En route to her five-wicket haul, Deepti also became the highest wicket-taker in the history of Women’s T20 Internationals.

With the third game being played on the same Edgbaston track, India enjoyed the advantage of bowling second as there was some turn on offer and the odd ball gripped, not allowing the batters to hit through the line. Deepti was virtually unplayable on this pitch.

The most telling contribution during India’s fielding effort also came from Deepti, whose direct throw ended left-handed keeper-batter Muneeba’s flashy innings.

Earlier, Mandhana’s batting was grace personified as her regal knock, along with Ghosh’s cameo, took India to a commanding total.

Ghosh provided the final flourish as left-arm seamer Tasmia Rubab conceded 23 runs in the penultimate over, which eventually broke Pakistan’s backbone.

Mandhana’s elegance was on full display at Edgbaston as she caressed the ball to the boundary with sheer timing.

The six off left-arm seamer Rubab had class written all over it. Dancing down the track, the inside-out boundaries off off-spinner Rameen Shamim were a work of art as she completed her half-century off just 34 balls. Her innings included nine boundaries and two sixes.

Shamim, though, eventually dismissed Mandhana when her mistimed hit was well caught by skipper Fatima Sana, who timed her slide to perfection.

Mandhana found able company in her seasoned skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (36 off 35 balls) as the duo added 91 runs for the third wicket after the cheap dismissals of Shafali Verma (6) and Jemimah Rodrigues (1) had left India under pressure at 18 for 2.

The skipper and her deputy were cautious, with the Powerplay ending at 30 for 2, but they did not let go of opportunities to find the boundary.

In the next seven overs, India scored 70 runs, and Mandhana got a couple of reprieves as Pakistan’s butter-fingered fielders let regulation chances slip.

The left-hander was dropped off Rubab’s bowling when her mistimed lofted shot was spilled by the fielder stationed at mid-off, who failed to hold on to the ball while running backwards.

The other chance came at the wide long-on boundary, where the fielder saw the ball slip through her hands for a six. The unlucky bowler was left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal (2/41), easily one of Pakistan’s best performers alongside skipper Fatima Sana (2/33).

While Mandhana’s footwork was a treat for the eyes, Kaur muscled several deliveries using the depth of the crease. The Indian skipper used both the conventional sweep and slog sweep to good effect.

Once Mandhana was dismissed, India suffered a brief slump as Bharti Fulmali (0) was immediately stumped while attempting an ugly hoick, and Kaur’s flick off Sana was caught by Natalia Pervaiz at the square-leg boundary.