CAPE TOWN: Right-handed Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues struck a gritty half-century in the tricky run chase against arch-rivals Pakistan and steered her side to a thrilling seven-wicket victory in the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup.
Set to chase 151, India amassed 151/3 in the 19th over at the back of a crucial knock by Rodrigues, who scored an unbeaten 53 off just 38 deliveries.
The right-handed batter top-scored for her side with a magnificent knock that featured eight boundaries.
Earlier, opening batter Shafali Verma (33) also laid a solid foundation for the run chase as she put on two vital partnerships before finally falling in the 10th over.
Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur stayed briefly at the crease as she could score 16 before falling victim to Nashra Sandhu.
Following Kaur’s dismissal, Richa Ghosh joined Rodrigues and added an unbeaten 58-run match-winning partnership. Ghosh remained unbeaten with a brisk 31 off just 20 balls including five boundaries.
For Pakistan, Sandhu led the bowling with 2/15 in her four overs while Sadia Iqbal could make one scalp.
After opting to bat first, the Green Shirts were off to a rather shaky start as experienced opener Javeria Khan (8) fell in the second over as Deepti Sharma provided the first breakthrough for India.
Following the early slump, skipper Bismah stitched a gritty 32-run partnership with young opener Muneeba Ali before Radha Yadav broke the budding partnership by removing the latter for just 12.
Pakistan then found themselves in deep trouble when their in-form all-rounder Nida Dar perished for a duck in the next over before Sidra Ameen departed for a mere 11 after a brief fourth-wicket partnership with Bismah.
Hard-hitting batter Ayesha then turned the tables on the disciplined Indian bowling attack as she struck a quickfire 43 off just 25 deliveries and bolstered Pakistan to a competitive total.
The right-handed batter struck two sixes and as many fours in her unbeaten crucial innings.
Whereas, Bismah too, carried her bat till the end as she scored 68 not out off 55 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries.
Radha led the bowling attack for India with two wickets, while Deepti and Pooja Vastrakar made one scalp each.
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