India got their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign off to the perfect start with a 64-run victory over Pakistan at Edgbaston.
Smriti Mandhana (64 off 44) starred with the bat as India set Pakistan a record chase of 171 for victory.
Pakistan produced their best-ever T20 powerplay to give themselves hope, but collapsed to 106 all out in 17 overs, with Deepti Sharma (5-10) sealing the win – and her five-for – with three wickets in the final over.
Both teams return to action on Wednesday, with India facing the Netherlands at Headingley before staying in Birmingham to play South Africa – both live on Sky Sports.
India off to winning start at T20 World Cup
Relations between the sides remain tense, with no bilateral cricket and meetings limited to neutral venues.
There was no handshake between the captains before the game after Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and chose to bat on a slow Edgbaston surface.
India recovered from early setbacks thanks to a 91-run stand between Smriti and captain Kaur, with late hitting from Richa Ghosh, who plundered 23 runs from the penultimate over, lifting India to 170-6.
Pakistan made a bright start with 37 runs in the first four overs, but Deepti turned the game, striking twice early before combining with fellow spinner Shree Charani.
Pakistani batters failed to withstand the pressure from India’s spinners, losing seven wickets for 31 runs from 75-3, with Sharma wrapping up victory in the 17th over.
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Deepti Sharma grabbed a five-wicket haul for 10 runs against Pakistan to become the leading wicket taker in T20 internationals
‘Deepti, Smriti always deliver’
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, on Sky Sports Cricket:
“Whenever we need Smriti and Deepti, they are always there to push the team, so we’re really happy with the way they both played today.
“It was a decent pitch. We initially put ourselves under unnecessary pressure, but when Smriti and I were batting, we tried to control the game and got what we wanted. Then Richa Ghosh came in, and she is a class hitter of the ball.
“Cricket is a game where, if you take all your catches, you always win matches – and I think that’s what made the difference in the field.”
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India’s Shreyanka Patil took an excellent diving catch against Pakistan in the Women’s T20 World Cup
Plenty to improve for Pakistan
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana, on Sky Sports Cricket:
“The batting side was really disappointing. We need to step up in the next matches because we have still a long way to go in the World Cup.
“We were good [in the field] until 15 overs, after that we gave some extra runs.
“Catches win the matches. Unfortunately, those who dropped the catches were senior players.
“We need to improve in the bowling and fielding in the next matches because if we collapse in the fielding it costs the whole match.”
Deepti Sharma stole the show with five wickets and a run-out in India’s victory over Pakistan at Edgbaston
‘I knew I would step up when needed’
Player of the match – Deepti Sharma (5-10) – on Sky Sports Cricket:
“I like ICC tournaments. I picked up right where I left off, and I’m very grateful. I enjoy wickets like this – the ball was turning, so I varied my pace with every delivery across my overs.
“I believed in myself and bowled in the right areas. I wasn’t worried about not taking wickets; I always trusted that I would step up for the team when the time came.
“It was an amazing crowd here, with so many people coming out to support India.”
Everyone can stream all 12 group matches involving England, Scotland and Ireland, as well as the semi-finals and final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup live for FREE on the Sky Sports App.
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Watch every ball of the Women’s T20 World Cup exclusively live on Sky Sports and NOW through to the final at Lord’s on July 5.
