CAPE TOWN: Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh guided India to a seven-wicket victory against Pakistan in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at Newlands.
India were chasing a victory target of 150, their highest in women’s Twenty20 Internationals.
Pakistan picked up regular wickets to pile the pressure, but Rodrigues and Ghosh put on an unbeaten 58 off 33 balls for the fourth wicket as India achieved victory with one over to spare.
At the onset, Shafali Verma was partnered by Yastika Bhatia at the top with Smriti Mandhana out injured.
The duo put on 38 for the opening wicket before Yastika was dismissed by Sadia Iqbal in the final over of the Powerplay. Verma and Rodrigues rebuilt, but Pakistan struck in the 10th over when Sidra Amin pulled off a stunning catch close to the ropes to send back Verma.
While Harmanpreet Kaur and Rodrigues fought back for a bit, Nashra Sandhu sent back Kaur in the 14th over to give Pakistan a massive boost. But Richa and Jemimah took over from there to lead India to a brilliant win.
Rodrigues hit a fine unbeaten fifty (53 not out off 38 balls) and along with Ghosh (31 not out off 20 balls) took India over the victory line in 19 overs with seven wickets in hand.
Earlier, Pakistan, who won the toss and opted to bat first, lost opener Javeria Khan to Deepti Sharma in the second over.
Bismah Maroof and Muneeba Ali took the attack to Deepti to help Pakistan to 39-1 at the end of the Powerplay, their highest against India in the first six overs in women’s T20Is.
However, Radha Yadav struck soon after with the wicket of Muneeba and Pooja Vastrakar sent back Nida Dar for a duck to put India back on top.
The in-form Sidra Amin joined Bismah in the middle and the duo put on 25 for the fourth wicket before a freak dismissal saw Amin dismissed by Radha.
Ayesha Naseem’s entry added impetus to Pakistan’s innings as she raced off the blocks with some lusty blows. Bismah held one end up as Ayesha charged from the other to lift Pakistan past the 100-run mark in the 16th over.
Bismah completed her fifty soon after as the duo put on a partnership that pushed India onto the back foot. The unbeaten 81-run stand helped Pakistan to 149-4 at the end of 20 overs. The last five overs yielded 58 runs as Pakistan gave India a stiff target.
Bismah remained not out on 68 and Ayesha on 43 and added an unbeaten partnership of 81 off 47 balls.
In the second match of the day, Sri Lanka registered their second victory in the tournament with a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh at the same venue.
Harshitha Samarawickrama and Nilakshi Silva stitched together a century stand to help Sri Lanka chase down the target of 127.
Samarawickrama and Silva revived the Sri Lankan innings after 18-year-old Marufa Akter caused havoc early in the Powerplay.
Harshitha starred with an unbeaten half-century with Nilakshi providing able company with an equally good knock. The duo came together with Sri Lanka at 25-3 and remained unseparated till the end as they chased the target down.
Brief scores: India beat Pakistan by seven wickets. Pakistan 149-4 in 20 overs (Bismah 68 not out, Ayesha 43 not out; Radha 2-21). India 151-3 in 19 Overs (Jemimah 53 not out, Richa 31 not out; Nashra 2-15).
Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by seven wickets. Bangladesh 126-8 (Mostary 29; Ranasinghe 3-23, Athapaththu 2-19). Sri Lanka 129-3 (Harshitha 69no; Marufa 3-23).
