In a commanding performance, India Women triumphed over Pakistan by seven wickets in their Group A match of the Women's Asia Cup, held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The standout of the match was Shree Charani, whose exceptional bowling spell played a pivotal role in dismantling the Pakistani batting lineup.
Charani delivered an outstanding bowling display, finishing with figures of 3 wickets for just 7 runs in her four overs. After winning the toss and opting to bat, Pakistan found themselves in trouble early on, collapsing from a promising 27-1 to a dismal 35-6. Ultimately, they were all out for a mere 55 runs in just 18.1 overs.
The innings began with a decent start for Pakistan, as Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar made early contributions. Muneeba scored 13 runs off 15 balls, while Zulfiqar managed a run-a-ball 14. However, the Indian bowlers quickly turned the tide. Charani struck first, trapping Zulfiqar lbw, and then dismissed Gull Feroza for a duck in the same over. The wickets continued to tumble as Ayesha Zafar fell soon after, leaving Pakistan reeling at 29-4.
India's bowlers maintained relentless pressure throughout the innings. Prema Rawat was particularly effective, claiming three wickets for just nine runs. Deepti Sharma also played a crucial role, taking two wickets for five runs, while Shafali Verma contributed with a wicket of her own. The Pakistani lower order struggled to make any significant impact, with Fatima Sana falling lbw to Deepti without scoring and Eyman Fatima run out for five runs.
As Pakistan’s innings came to a close, they found themselves at 54-9 before Tuba Hassan’s dismissal for nine sealed their fate at 55 runs. Charani’s economical bowling was key, as she conceded less than two runs per over while accounting for three top-order wickets.
Chasing a modest target, India began their innings with an aggressive approach but faced a brief scare when captain Fatima Sana took three quick wickets. Shafali Verma, who scored 12 runs off just six balls, was the first to go, caught and bowled by Sana. Pratika Rawal followed shortly for four runs, and Smriti Mandhana was dismissed for nine, leaving India at a precarious 29-3 after just 3.6 overs.
Despite the early setbacks, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma steadied the innings. Kaur remained unbeaten on 18 runs from 18 balls, while Deepti provided solid support with 12 runs off 14 balls. Together, they guided India to a comfortable victory, reaching 57-3 in just 8.4 overs, and securing the win with 68 balls to spare. This victory not only boosts India’s confidence in the tournament but also showcases the depth and talent within their squad.
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