India won by six wickets against Pakistan in their Women’s T20 World Cup match in Dubai on Sunday and registered their first win in the mega tournament.
“We look forward to heading into the next game and this win has given us the momentum,” Smriti Mandhana, who was standing in for Harmanpreet Kaur, said after the match.
Kaur walked off injured during the match. Nida Dar bowled one full and wide outside the off-stump and Kaur missed the swipe to the off-side, moving out of the crease in the process. In an attempt to get back into the crease, the Indian skipper seemed to have hurt her neck.
It was a major first point for the team in the T20 World Cup after the heavy defeat against New Zealand.
“It’s too soon to give an update on Harmanpreet’s injury, but I hope she is fine,” Mandhana said.
While talking about the match, she said that they followed the plans but could have done better with the bat. The left handed batter stated that it was “tough to time the ball.”
Pakistan’s Women Team Captain Fatima Sana said that they were not up to mark with the bat. She was of the view that the team was 10 to 15 runs short.
Sana hoped they can bounce back in the next game. “I enjoyed playing against India.”
Arundhati Reddy picked up three wickets as Pakistan struggled against India’s bowlers, reaching 105-8 in their match.
Nida Dar top-scored with 28 from 34 balls but there was little else for Pakistan to cheer after skipper Fatima Sana had won the toss and elected to bat first on a wicket that produced some awkward bounce.
Renuka Singh produced a fine inswinger to bowl Gull Feroza in the first over and Pakistan never recovered.
Fellow opener Muneeba Ali clubbed a couple of boundaries but charged down the pitch to Shreyanka Patil when she became tied down and was stumped by Richa Ghosh for 17.
The wicketkeeper later produced a superb catch to dismiss the dangerous Fatima as she tried to increase the tempo.
Reddy chipped in with the wickets of Omaima Sohail (3) and Aliya Riaz (4) before clean-bowling Dar in the final over to finish with 3-19 from her four overs.
(With input from AFP)
