Smriti Mandhana delivered a batting exhibition at Edgbaston on Sunday, hammering a commanding half-century to steer India to a fighting total of 170-6 against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Women’s T20 World Cup. The left-handed opener’s sublime 68 off 44 deliveries, studded with nine fours and two sixes, formed the backbone of the innings after an early wobble.
Early Stumbles and a Crucial Recovery
India’s innings ignited explosively when Shafali Verma launched the very first ball of the match for a six. However, the fireworks were short-lived. Off-spinner Sadia Iqbal had Verma caught in the same over, setting off alarm bells in the Indian camp. The pressure intensified when Jemimah Rodrigues fell cheaply for one, caught off Tasmia Rubab, leaving India reeling at 18-2 within the fourth over.
With the innings in disarray, captain Harmanpreet Kaur joined Mandhana at the crease. The experienced duo immediately set about rebuilding, mixing caution with calculated aggression. Their partnership methodically dismantled Pakistan’s bowling rhythm, pushing the score past 50 by the ninth over.
Mandhana’s 34th T20I Fifty Anchors the Innings
Mandhana was in imperious touch, effortlessly finding the boundary and rotating the strike. She reached her 34th T20I half-century in style, a milestone that underscored her status as one of the format’s premier batters. Kaur provided robust support, contributing 36 from 35 balls with four boundaries, as the 91-run stand took India past the 100-run mark and appeared to set the platform for a massive total.
The breakthrough came through Rameen Shamim, who deceived Mandhana to break the partnership. The dismissal triggered a minor collapse. Sadia Iqbal struck again, stumping Bharti Fulmali for one, and Fatima Sana claimed the prized wicket of Kaur, reducing India to a precarious 110-4 in the 15th over. Pakistan had wrestled back momentum.
Ghosh Blitz Provides Late Flourish
Just as the innings threatened to stall, Richa Ghosh unleashed a devastating counter-attack. The wicketkeeper-batter smashed a fiery 17-ball 34, including five boundaries and a six, propelling India past the 150-run mark. Deepti Sharma played the perfect foil, remaining unbeaten on 12 as the pair plundered runs in the death overs. Fatima Sana bowled the final over, conceding 14 runs and picking up Ghosh’s wicket, but the damage had been done.
For Pakistan, Sadia Iqbal and Fatima Sana were the standout bowlers, each finishing with two wickets. Tasmia Rubab and Rameen Shamim chipped in with one wicket apiece, but the total remained a formidable challenge.
Pakistan: Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali (wk), Ayesha Zafar, Saira Jabeen, Natalia Pervaiz, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana (c), Rameen Shamim, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Tasmia Rubab.
India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Shreyanka Patil.
