In a clinical finish, India beat arch-rivals Pakistan in the opening encounter of Women’s Asia Cup 2024 at Dambulla, Sri Lanka. Chasing a modest 109-run target set by Pakistan, India got over the line with seven wickets intact, courtesy of the 85-run opening stand between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. While Shafali struck 6 fours and 1 six to register 40, Mandhana hit 9 fours to score 45. Both started the innings on a flier by punishing every bad ball that came their way.
However, Mandhana got out in an attempt to heave the ball into the leg side. Aliya Riaz settled under the ball and took a good catch. Dalayan Hemalatha then took the matter into her own hands by smashing the bowlers. However, Pakistan struck back by dismissing Shafali and Hemalatha in quick succession. Both these played rather rash shots to get out. Something they would like to avoid as Team India moves further in the tournament. For Pakistan, it was one bad day where they lost grip over the game from the beginning and never recovered from that. India achieved the target in just 14.1 overs.
Pakistan Succumbed to 108 Against India in Women’s Asia Cup 2024
Pakistan Women’s Team Captain Nida Dar won the toss and elected to bat first on a two-paced surface at Dambulla. However, the decision to bat first was proved wrong as India struck in the second over of the game. Pooja Vastrakar induced a false stroke from Gull Feroza as Harmanpreet Kaur took an easy catch at mid-on. The right-arm medium-fast bowler struck again as Muneeba Ali was undone by the short delivery that got big on her bat and Jemimah Rodrigues took an easy catch at short mid-wicket.
Then it was the turn of Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma to make further inroads into Pakistan’s batting line-up. While Renuka scalped Ameen and Javed, Deepti knocked over Nida Dar, Tuba Hassan and Nashra Sandhu. Deepti was adjudged the Player of the Match award for her three wickets. Pakistan somehow went past the 100-run mark, courtesy of Ameen (25 runs), Tuba Hassan (22 runs) and Fatima Sana (22 runs). They got all out for 108 in 19.2 overs.
A Look at the Tournament Structure
Women’s Asia Cup 2024 is played among eight teams who are divided into two groups A and B.
Group A – India, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates and Nepal
Group B – Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia
The top two teams from both groups will qualify for the semi-finals of the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, with the final two competing for the Final on July 28, 2024.
Stay connected with the zarooribaathai.in team for all the sporting updates on the Women’s Asia Cup 2024.
