BENGALURU: Indian Women on Sunday put up a grandiose show to pummel the arch-rivals Pakistan Women by 8 wickets at Edgbaston in their second match of the Commonwealth Games. The match was reduced to 18 overs a side due to rain.
After opting to bat, Pakistan Women lost their opener Iram Javed in the second over as she tried to drive medium-pacer Meghna Singh but the ball moved away a bit and an outside edge was grabbed by the wicket-keeper Yastika Bhatia.
The other Muneeba Ali, however, was oozing confidence and reeled off an array of fine shots, including a six off Meghna. Pakistan’s captain Bismah Maroof was sedate but lent good support to Ali as they put together a 50-run alliance for the second wicket.
The turning point of the match was the 9th over by the off-spinner Sneh Rana in which she gobbled up both Alu and Maroof. While the latter was trapped in front of the stumps while attempting a sweep, Ali was deceived by the subtle change in pace and returned Rana a catch. She scored 32 off 30 balls.
After they were dismissed, Pakistan’s innings slumped into a downward spiral as they lost wickets in a heap. Their woes were compounded by three run-outs executed by the Indian fielders. Sabbhineni Meghana accounted for Aliya Riaz by lobbing a stupendous direct-hit in the 17th over. In the end, Pakistan were bowled out for 99 in 18 overs.
In response, Indian opener Smriti Mandhana launched a scorching attack on Pakistan bowlers right from the word go. She started by thumping the left-arm spinner Anam Amin for a six over long-on in the second over and then smashed medium-pacer Diana Baig for three boundaries in the next over. Mandhana played a gamut of shots – from pulls and drives to cuts – with amazing aplomb and comprehensively demoralised Pakistan bowlers.
Shafali Verma also whipped out a few exquisite inside-out shots before she fell to Tuba Hassan for 16 in the 6th over. But by then, the opening pair had added 61 runs and were cruising towards the win.
Mandhana continued to punish Pakistan bowlers in an uninhibited manner as India chased down the target in 11.4 overs to seal the eight-wicket victory. Mandhana remained unbeaten for 63 off just 42 balls.