IN-W vs PA-W, Women’s Asia Cup: Pakistan 137 for 6 (Dar 56*, Deepti 3-27) beat India 124 (Ghosh 26, Sandhu 3-30, Dar 2-23) by 13 runs

In their Women’s T20 Asia Cup match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan overcame a surprise loss to Thailand and defeated India by 13 runs.

Nida Dar, an all-rounder, was Pakistan’s first batswoman, scoring an unbeaten 56 after an early stutter before taking two wickets, including India captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s return. Her efforts contributed to Pakistan’s first-ever victory over India in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup, their third victory over India in 13 matches. Additionally, it ended India’s tournament winning streak.

Pakistan reached 137 for 6 after Dar and captain Bismah Maroof combined for 76 runs, putting India at 91 for 7. However, Richa Ghosh, who bats at No.8 struck 26 off just 13 balls to raise India’s hopes after leaving the field in the first innings due to a heat-related issue. However, it eventually became too much for her to handle.

Stifling the powerplay Pakistan’s openers Muneeba Ali and Sidra Ameen made it clear from the start that they were going to attack by choosing to bat instead. After their batsmen failed them in the match against Thailand, they were under pressure to change their strategy and were eager to frustrate the bowlers. Muneeba used her feet to come down and swipe Deepti Sharma past midfield after Ameen successfully utilised the crease to slash Renuka Singh for a four. The duo’s efforts did not bear fruit because of India’s disciplined bowling.

Ameen was then caught nicking at one outside off by Pooja Vastrakar, and Deepti took two wickets in three balls in her third powerplay over.Before catching Omaima Sohail lbw after she missed the sweep, she deceived Muneeba in the air to stump her.In the interim, there was a dropped chance of Sohail as well. 

In the first six overs, Pakistan were reduced to 33 runs for 3.

Maroof and Dar led Pakistan’s recovery. At that point, it was Maroof and Dar’s responsibility to get Pakistan back on track.They displayed their skills against India’s spinners, the team’s only players with over 100 T20Is between them. Dar was the one who attacked Radha Yadav, who had been brought in to replace Sneh Rana. She did this by sweeping her through a backward square leg, and then she used her feet to slink down the track and hit Rajeshwari Gayakwad over mid-on.

Even though Maroof took her time getting her eye in, Dar hit a four and a six off Dayalan Hemalatha quickly out of the gate. The Pakistan captain pulled Pooja Vastrakar through square leg to end her boundary drought. Maroof mistimed a scoop-turned-to-ramp straight to short third in an effort to raise the stakes even higher.

Dar moved quickly to reach her sixth T20I half-century and brought Pakistan’s total to 137, despite India’s regular inroads from the other end, which saw them pick up three wickets for just 30 runs in the final five overs.

India loses when it experiments. 

In response, Sabbhineni Meghana and Smriti Mandhana struggled to keep pace off the field against Pakistan spinners, despite Meghana hitting sixes off Dar and fours off Sadia Iqbal, who was brought in to replace Diana Baig, who was injured. When Meghana tried to repeat it against Nashra Sandhu’s left-arm spin, she sliced one to cover.

After that, despite having a few chances, Rodrigues was unable to get going, and he top-edged a swipe at Dar for a backward point. Mandhana survived a stamping chance and holed out to long-on on the very next ball off Sandhu, leaving India at 50 for 3 in ten overs even as Hemalatha got going from one end.

Vastrakar, who appeared at No.5 runs ahead of Harmanpreet, Hemalatha was run out after getting mixed up with Tuba Hassan, a leg spinner, and Hemalatha was bowled for trying to play a cheeky paddle.Harmanpreet and Deepti made 26 off 19 balls for the sixth wicket at a asking rate well above nine before Deepti top-edged a sweep.Soon after, Harmanpreet was unsuccessful in clearing Aliya Riaz, who took three crucial wickets at long-on toward the end to leave India reeling.

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After that, Ghosh used her big-hitting skills to smash Sandhu for consecutive sixes in the 18th over before hitting another off Iqbal in the following over. However, the target was always far away. She left in the 19th over, putting India in need of 18 runs in the final over with one wicket left. Pakistan won the match thanks to Aiman Anwer’s sweep of Rajeshwari Gayakwad with two balls remaining in the chase.