BIRMINGHAM: Opener Smriti Mandhana blasted an unbeaten knock of 63 off 42 as India outclassed Pakistan by eight wickets in a rain-hit Group A match of the Commonwealth Games, here on Sunday.
Pakistan women’s team lost for the second time in a row, ending their hopes of winning a medal at the competition as they currently sit last in their group.
Set to chase a meagre target of 100 runs, left-handed batter Mandhana shone with a powerful knock laced with eight boundaries and three sixes to steer her side towards a comfortable win with more than six overs to spare.
Mandhana set the tone of India’s chase as the openers raised a magnificent 61-run stand in the powerplay before Tuba Hassan finally had the first breakthrough in the sixth over dismissing Shefali Verma on 16 off 9.
Pakistan, on the hand, remained unimpressive throughout the game as the bowlers leaked too many runs after the batters underwent an utter collapse in the first half.
Indian bowlers stormed through the national team’s batting order as the Green Shirts lost the last five wickets for the addition of mere three runs.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Pakistan had a dismal start to their batting as Opener Iram Javed went back to the pavilion without scoring a run in the second over.
Skipper Bismah Maroof and left-handed opener Muneeba Ali then put Pakistan’s team back on track as the pair combined excellently for the second-wicket partnership of 50 before off-spinner Sneha Rana dislodged the pair, dismissing both the batters in the same over.
Following the havoc in the 9th over, Pakistan’s batting lost track and started to lose wickets at regular intervals before tail-enders underwent a disastrous collapse.
Muneeba Ali remained the top-scorer for the side with her 32 off 30 laced with three boundaries and a six.
For India, Rana and Radha Yadav bagged two wickets each while Renuka Singh, Meghna Singh and Shafali Verma made a scalp apiece.
Pakistan Women will now face Australia on August 3 in their final match of the Commonwealth Games 2022
READ: New Zealand blunt Pakistan 4-1 in Commonwealth Games 2022
