India began their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with an emphatic 64-run win over Pakistan, riding Smriti Mandhana’s 68 and a match-winning 5 for 10 from Deepti Sharma to secure a commanding result in Birmingham.
After being reduced to 18 for 2, India recovered to post 170 for 6, their highest T20 World Cup total against Pakistan. Pakistan’s chase started briskly, but Deepti’s early strikes and a direct-hit run-out of Muneeba Ali (41) triggered a collapse as Pakistan were bowled out for 106. The win also handed India a significant net run rate boost in what has been dubbed the “group of death”.
India recover from 18 for 2 to post 170 for 6
India’s innings began at high tempo, with Shafali Verma launching her first ball for six. The early intent, however, came with risk: Verma was caught behind four balls later off left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal, and Jemimah Rodrigues followed with an uncharacteristic swipe to be caught at cover in the fourth over. The wicket gave left-arm seamer Tasmia Rubab a breakthrough on World Cup debut, leaving India 18 for 2 and in need of a stabilising partnership.
Mandhana provided that control while still keeping the scoreboard moving. She found boundaries off spinner Rameem Shamim in the fifth over and then benefited from missed chances that proved costly for Pakistan. On 27, Mandhana was dropped by Aliya Riyaz running back from mid-off, denying Rubab a second wicket. At that stage, India were still searching for momentum at 44 for 2 in the eighth over.
Fatima Sana kept things tight through the middle overs, while Harmanpreet Kaur took time to settle, at one point moving to 5 off 10. The introduction of left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu prompted a shift, with Harmanpreet striking two boundaries in her first over against her as India scored 24 between overs 7 and 10. Mandhana, meanwhile, was particularly effective stepping out and hitting inside-out over cover, and she brought up a half-century from 34 balls.
Pakistan’s fielding lapses continued when Saira Jabeen reprieved Mandhana again at deep midwicket off Iqbal, and India looked set to push beyond a competitive total. Mandhana eventually holed out to long-on for 68, offering Pakistan a window back into the innings. That opening widened briefly when Bharti Fulmali was stumped three balls later, giving Iqbal another wicket, and when Harmanpreet flicked Sana to deep square, India had lost 3 for 14.
India then endured a 21-ball stretch without a boundary, but the finish was decisive. Richa Ghosh, who had eased concerns about her form during warm-ups, produced a late assault that transformed the total. Rubab, who had been economical at 3-0-17-1, was taken apart in a 23-run over as Ghosh struck 4, 6, 4, 4 in sequence. Ghosh’s 34 off 17 powered India to 60 runs in the final six overs, including 15 off the last over, lifting them to 170 for 6 when a finish around 150 had seemed possible.
Deepti’s 5 for 10 and a direct hit spark Pakistan collapse
Pakistan’s chase began with momentum, as the openers rattled 38 quickly and Muneeba rode early luck. She was put down in the second over when she jabbed at a sharp-turner from Shreyanka Patil and Ghosh missed the chance, and then Arundhati Reddy dropped a straightforward opportunity at point in the fourth over after Shreyanka deceived Muneeba in flight. Muneeba also disrupted lengths by walking across to scoop and cut well as Pakistan surged to 37 without loss in four overs.
Deepti’s introduction in the fifth over changed the tone. After three dots, she had Gul Feroza caught at point off a reverse sweep attempt, and in her next over she removed Ayesha Zafar, who swept straight to Mandhana at short fine leg. With wickets falling, India’s spinners tightened their grip through the middle phase, and Pakistan lost 5 for 26 as the chase slipped away.
Alongside Deepti, Shree Charani impressed on T20 World Cup debut, returning 3 for 21 in the middle overs to keep Pakistan under pressure. The decisive moment came when Deepti produced a direct hit from short third to run out Muneeba for 41, removing Pakistan’s most dangerous batter at a critical stage and deepening the collapse.
Deepti then completed a dominant spell, picking up three wickets in her fourth over to wrap up the match in the 17th. Pakistan were bowled out for 106, with Deepti finishing with 5 for 10 and earning the Player of the Match award. The five-for also made her the highest wicket-taker in women’s T20Is, capping a performance that turned India’s strong total into a comprehensive opening win.