India kicked off their Women's T20I World Cup campaign dominantly, securing a splendid 64-run win over arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday at Edgbaston. Deciding to bat, India overcame an early blow to post an impressive 170/6 in 20 overs. They lost Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues in quick succession.
However, the innings was anchored by Smriti Mandhana, who played a magnificent knock of 68 runs from 44 deliveries. She forged a crucial 91-run partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, helping the team recover and bounce back strongly. Harmanpreet contributed a valuable 36 runs off 35 balls. Richa Ghosh also played an aggressive cameo, smashing 34 runs off 17 balls.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's chase began on a positive note, with opener Muneeba Ali remaining solid at the top of the order. She struck 41 runs. However, once her resistance was broken, Pakistan struggled to maintain the momentum. The Indian bowlers kept tightening their grip on the match, with Deepti Sharma returning with a fifer. Sharma played a huge role in helping India bowl Pakistan out for 106 in 17 overs.