The Indian women's team kicked off its Asia Cup 2024 campaign with a thumping win over arch-rivals Pakistan at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led team humbled down Nida Dar's Pakistan in their opening clash of the tournament on Friday, July 19 to claim an seven-wicket win while chasing 109-run target.
The chase was well set with an 85-run opening stand between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana with the two players taking the team to the door of the win before the latter departed for 45 when she found mid-wicket to perfection. Dayalan Hemalatha joined Shafali in the middle but there were some more hiccups for the Women in Blue before captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues took them home in 14.1 over.
The Indian women's team was on course of winning this by 10 wickets and the openers were seemingly behind it with their intent-filled approach. Mandhana and Shafali raced India to 57/0 in the first six overs. It looked like the game would end in 10-12 when Mandhana collected 21 off the 8th over of Tuba Hassan with five fours. But the Women in Green looked to delay the inevitable as leg-spinner Syeda Aroob Shah struck with the wicket of Mandhana before getting in her next over for 40. Nashra Sandhu also joined the wickets column as she removed Dayalan Hemalatha for 14. Jemimah and Harmanpreet joined hands and ensured they didn't suffer any further hiccups.
The platform for the win was laid by the Indian bowlers. All-rounder Deepti Sharma was the pick of the bunch with three wickets while returning Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar and Shreyanka Patil scalped two each. Sidra Ameen, Tuba Hassan and Fatima Sana were the only ones to get over 20. Ameen was the top-scorer with 25 runs but she took 35 balls to score those runs.
India will next play against UAE on July 21 before setting-up a meet with Nepal on July 23.
