The highly anticipated Pakistan Women vs India Women match in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 unfolded as a thrilling encounter. Both teams, historically fierce rivals, met for the 7th match of Group A, with India aiming to dominate and Pakistan seeking a key victory to strengthen their position.
First Innings Summary: Pakistan Women’s Struggles
Pakistan Women batted first but faced a disciplined bowling attack from India, managing to post a modest total of 105/8 in their 20 overs. Pakistan’s innings saw a mix of resilience and struggle, as India’s bowlers capitalized on early breakthroughs and kept Pakistan on the back foot.
The highlight of Pakistan’s batting was Nida Dar, who scored 38 runs, anchoring the innings when wickets fell at regular intervals. However, she lacked significant support from the rest of the team. Opener Muneeba Ali contributed 17 runs before getting out, while skipper Bismah Maroof struggled for fluency, scoring 12 off 19 balls. Pakistan’s inability to build partnerships was one of the key reasons for their low total.
India’s bowlers delivered a clinical performance. Pooja Vastrakar led the bowling attack with figures of 3/19, exploiting the conditions effectively. Her ability to swing the ball and vary her pace made it difficult for the Pakistani batters to settle. Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Deepti Sharma also played key roles, containing Pakistan’s batters and maintaining pressure through economical spells. Gayakwad picked up 2 wickets, while Deepti Sharma was crucial in the middle overs, keeping the run rate in check with her tight bowling.
Second Innings: India’s Confident Start
In reply, India Women began their chase confidently, with openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana taking charge. Although Shafali was dismissed early for just 2 runs, Smriti continued to show her class with a composed 35 off 29 balls. Her innings included some stylish boundaries, and she looked set to guide India to an easy win.
Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s experienced captain, added 26 runs to stabilize the chase further. Known for her ability to anchor the innings and finish games, Harmanpreet played an important role in ensuring India stayed ahead of the required run rate.
Pakistan’s bowlers, though defending a small total, showed moments of brilliance. Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal bowled tight spells, with Nashra picking up 2 wickets and keeping the Indian batters in check during the middle overs. However, the low total didn’t give Pakistan much breathing space, and India kept control throughout the chase.
Match Context and Significance
The Pakistan Women vs India Women rivalry in cricket has always garnered massive attention due to the long-standing history between the two nations. This match holds significant weight in the group stage of the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, as both teams are competing fiercely to advance to the knockout rounds. A win for India would further cement their dominance in Group A, while a victory for Pakistan would boost their chances of making it to the semi-finals.
Both teams came into this contest with different forms; India Women, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, have consistently performed well in the tournament and were seen as favorites. On the other hand, Pakistan Women, under Bismah Maroof’s leadership, aimed to bounce back from their previous performances and upset their arch-rivals.
Pakistan Women vs India Women Top Performers
- Nida Dar (Pakistan): Despite her team’s struggles, Nida Dar played a crucial knock of 38 runs, showing her ability to hold the innings together.
- Pooja Vastrakar (India): Her 3/19 dismantled Pakistan’s top and middle order, giving India the upper hand early in the match.
- Smriti Mandhana (India): A calm and composed 35 runs underlined her status as one of India’s most reliable batters in pressure situations.
In conclusion, this Pakistan Women vs India Women 2024 match lived up to the expectations of a high-stakes rivalry. India’s bowling prowess and Pakistan’s inability to build partnerships defined the outcome, with India’s chase looking poised to seal a comfortable victory. This match further establishes India’s dominance in the group, while Pakistan will need to regroup and come back stronger in their remaining fixtures.
