Women’s Asia Cup: India Thrash Pakistan by Seven Wickets to Complete Unbeaten Group Stage

India completed a perfect group-stage campaign in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup by overwhelming Pakistan at Dubai International Stadium. Pakistan managed only 55 runs, and India reached the target in 8.4 overs to win by seven wickets.

The result gave India three victories from three matches, following wins over Thailand and Hong Kong. Pakistan’s final group match against Hong Kong now carries a place in the final four at stake.

India’s chase began explosively when Shafali Verma hit a six from the first ball. She also reached 3,000 runs in Women’s T20 Internationals at 22 years and 220 days, becoming the youngest player to reach the mark. She reached it in 2,182 deliveries, the fastest by balls faced, according to the article.

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana briefly turned the match in her team’s favor. She dismissed Verma for 12 in the second over, then removed Pratika Rawal for four from the next delivery. Sana also dismissed Smriti Mandhana, who had scored a century in India’s previous match, for nine off 11 balls. India stood at 29 for three after four overs.

Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma steadied the innings and remained unbeaten on 18 and 12 respectively. They took India safely to the target after Pakistan’s innings had collapsed. Earlier, Shree Charani and Prema Rawat led India’s bowling effort. Pakistan’s openers Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar put together 27 runs, but the team was eventually bowled out in 18.1 overs.