India kicked off their Women's Asia Cup 2024 campaign in dominant fashion, defeating Pakistan by 7 wickets in Dambulla on Friday, July 19. The Indian bowling unit, led by Deepti Sharma's three-wicket haul and Shreyanka Patil's two wickets, dismantled a much-changed Pakistan lineup, restricting them to a modest 108 runs. Having won the toss and chosen to bat first, Pakistan faced immediate setbacks as Pooja Vastrakar struck twice early to dismiss both openers with just 26 runs on the board.
Sidra Ameen showed resilience with the bat, but the middle order failed to provide substantial support. Renuka Singh delivered a crucial blow by dismissing Ameen and Javed in consecutive deliveries, reducing Pakistan to 61 for 6 in the 13th over. Tuba Hassan and Fatima Sana attempted to steady the innings with a 31-run partnership, but Deepti Sharma's golden arm proved decisive. Deepti's two wickets in the 18th over and a run-out left Pakistan reeling at 94 for 9. Despite Sana's efforts to push the total past 100, Shreyanka Patil wrapped up the innings in the final over.
Commanding Chase Led by Shafali and Smriti
India's chase began with authority as openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana put on a show. The pair's 85-run stand-off 57 balls laid a solid foundation for the win. They initially took a cautious approach but quickly shifted gears to capitalize on the powerplay overs. The duo targeted Tuba Hassan, scoring 15 runs in the last over of the powerplay, helping India post 57 runs in the first six overs.
Smriti Mandhana, in particular, was in explosive form, hitting five boundaries in a single over from Tuba, amassing 21 runs. Although Smriti fell short of a well-deserved half-century, getting dismissed for 45 runs off 31 balls, her innings had already set the tone for an easy chase. Hemalatha joined in, and despite a brief struggle, she struck three boundaries to keep the momentum going. Shafali's dismissal and Hemalatha's follow-up wicket posed no threat to India's victory as Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues ensured the team crossed the finish line with 35 balls to spare.
Focus on Bowling Consistency
India's performance highlighted the strength of their bowling attack, which has been a crucial factor in their recent successes. Vastrakar's consistency, Radha Yadav's control, Deepti Sharma's reliability, and Shreyanka Patil's emerging talent form a formidable unit. As India looks to retain their title, maintaining this bowling consistency will be key, complementing the well-known prowess of their batting lineup.
India's next match is against UAE on Sunday, July 21, where they will aim to continue their winning momentum and solidify their position as tournament favorites.
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