Women’s Asia Cup 2024: All-round India Thrash Pakistan to Start Title Defence

India showcased an all-round performance to thrash Pakistan by 7 wickets in their Women’s Asia Cup 2024 opener on July 19 in Dambulla. Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil spearheaded India’s bowling attack, bundling Pakistan out for 108 runs. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana’s explosive 85-run stand set the tone for India’s dominant chase.

Match Overview

India won their Women’s Asia Cup opener in Dambulla on July 19, defeating Pakistan by 7 wickets. Deepti Sharma took 3 wickets while Shreyanka Patil grabbed 2, restricting Pakistan to 108 runs. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana’s 85-run partnership off 57 balls led India’s chase.

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Pakistan’s Batting Struggles

Pakistan elected to bat first but struggled early as Pooja Vastrakar struck twice, reducing them to 26 runs from 4 overs. Sidra Ameen showed resilience, but Aliya Riaz and captain Nida Dar failed to make an impact. Renuka Singh dismissed Ameen and Javed off consecutive deliveries, leaving Pakistan at 61 for 6 in 13 overs.

Middle Order Collapse

Tuba Hassan and Fatima Sana steadied Pakistan with a 31-run partnership, but Deepti Sharma’s 18th over changed the game. Sharma took 2 wickets and a run-out reduced Pakistan to 94 for 9. Sana’s efforts ensured Pakistan crossed 100 runs, but Shreyanka Patil ended their innings at 108.

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India’s Dominant Chase

India’s chase began assertively with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana dominating the bowlers. The duo posted 57 runs in the powerplay, with Smriti smashing 5 boundaries off Tuba’s second over. Smriti’s aggressive approach led to her dismissal for 45 runs off 31 balls.

Finishing the Game

Hemalatha hit 3 boundaries, stabilizing the chase after Shafali’s dismissal. Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues finished the game with 35 balls to spare, ensuring India’s comprehensive victory.

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Bowling Excellence

India’s bowlers laid the foundation for victory. Vastrakar’s consistency, Radha Yadav’s control, Deepti’s consistency, and Shreyanka’s impressive performance highlighted India’s bowling prowess. Their bowling will be crucial in retaining the Asia Cup title.