Mount Manganui, 6 March 2022: India defeated Pakistan by 107 runs in their opening ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 match at Mount Manganui on Sunday.
Chasing 245 for victory, Pakistan were bowled out for 137 in 43 overs with opener Sidra Amin finishing as the top-scorer with a 64-ball 30 and Diana Baig scoring 24 off 35 balls with two fours.
For India, Rajeshwari Gayakwad returned figures of 10-0-31-4, while Sneh Rana followed up her 53 not out with two for 27. Veteran Jhulan Goswamu snapped two up wickets for 26 runs to take her overall tally of wickets to 247.
Earlier, Pakistan’s disciplined bowling in the first half of the innings had India tottering at 114 for six, before rearguard half-centuries from Sneh Rana and Pooja Vastrakar took their side to 244 for six.
Pacer Diana Baig provided Pakistan a breakthrough in the third over when she knocked Shafali Verma’s leg-stump out of the ground. But, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma denied any further inroads to Pakistan bowlers, despite their disciplined line and length bowling. The Smriti-Deepti pair added 92 runs with Smriti scoring 52 off 75.
Deepti (40 off 57) fell 10 runs short of a half-century as she was bowled by left-arm orthodox Nashra Sandhu. Smriti followed her back in the pavilion soon and the dismissal sparked a collapse as India slipped from 98 for two to 114 for six.
Experienced all-rounder Nida Dar accounted for senior batter Harmanpreet Kaur (five off 14) and wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh (one off five), and Nashra sent India captain Mithali Raj (nine off 36) back.
Pooja top-scored with 67 as she raced to the score in 59 balls, hitting eight fours, and Sneh was unbeaten on 48-ball 53.
Nashra was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with two for 36, while Nida picked two for 45.
Scores in brief:
India 244-7, 50 overs (Pooja Vastrakar 67, Sneh Rana 53 not out, Smriti Mandhana 52, Deepti Sharma 40; Nashra Sandhu 2-36, Nida Dar 2-45)
Pakistan 137 all out, 43 overs (Sidra Amin 30, Diana Baig 24; Rajeshwari Gayakwad 4-31, Jhulan Goswami 2-26, Sneh Rana 2-27)
Pakistan’s next match – on Tuesday, 8 March, v Australia, Mount Manganui
