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Birmingham, June 14. After the strong half-century innings of opener Smriti Mandhana (68 runs, 44 balls, two sixes, nine fours), spinners Deepti Sharma (5-10) and Shri Charani (3-21) destroyed the Pakistani batting with their lethal bowling. As a result, India got off to a great start to their campaign in Group One of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with a massive 64-run win over arch-rivals here on Sunday.

Deepti and Shri Charani destroyed Pakistani batting

After a poor start of 2-18, the Indian team, who came to bat first at Edgbaston Ground, scored 170 runs for six wickets with the help of Richa Ghosh (34 runs, 17 balls, one six, five fours) and the valuable half-century partnership of vice-captain Smriti and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (36 runs, 35 balls, four fours). In reply, the Pakistani innings collapsed for 106 runs in 17 overs in front of ‘Player of the Match’ off-spinner Deepti and left-arm spinner Shri Charani.

Pakistan’s last 7 batsmen returned within 31 runs.

Pakistan team’s opener Muniba Ali (41 runs, 35 balls, five fours), who came to chase the challenging score, proved to be the highest scorer in the end, who returned after being run out at the total of 75 in the 11th over. At present, the line was established as soon as Muniba returned as the fourth batsman and the last seven wickets fell within 31 runs.

Deepti made a new record by taking 3 wickets in the 17th over.

Apart from Muniba, only Alia Riaz (18 runs, 17 balls, one four), Gul Feroza (12 runs, nine balls, two fours) and Ayesha Zafar (12 runs, eight balls, two fours) could reach double figures. Whereas Deepti closed the Pakistani innings by returning three batsmen including Aaliya in the 17th over. With this, she became the highest bowler taking 166 wickets in women’s T20 international cricket, leaving behind Thailand’s Thipacha Puthavong (165).

Mandhana and Harmanpreet scored 91 runs in 64 balls.

Before this, Shefali Verma (eight runs) and Jemimah Rodrigues (one run) returned early in the Indian innings. But Smriti and Harmanpreet brought the team back on track with a quick partnership of 91 runs in 64 balls. Mandhana, who scored a lucky half-century and got two lives, was dismissed by Ramin Shamim in the 14th over.

score card

After that, Bharti Fulmali (one run) and Harmanpreet also became victims of Sadia Iqbal (2-41) and Fatima Sana (2-33) in consecutive overs (5-123). But Richa Ghosh showed her sharp hand and gave a challenging score to the team by adding 45 runs in 21 balls with Deepti Sharma (12 not out, nine balls, one four).

India will now meet Netherlands on June 17

Six-time former champions Australia, Bangladesh, Netherlands and South Africa have been included in the group of India and Pakistan. India will next meet Netherlands on June 17 in Leeds. Group two consists of defending champion New Zealand, host England, Scotland, West Indies, Ireland and Sri Lankan teams.