India overcome batting scare to win against Pakistan

Indian Women’s team won convincingly by 107 runs against Pakistan after a batting fright in the first innings in their opening fixture of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022.

India recovered from a major collapse as they were left struggling at 114-6 in the 34th over but a 122 run partnership for the seventh wicket, a new record at the Women’s World Cup,between Pooja Vastrakar and Sneh Rana gave revived India’s innings and hauled them to 244-7.

Vastrakar,who scored 67 off 59 delveries,was castled by Fatima Sana and Rana remained not on 53(48).

Batting first,India lost opener Shafali Verma for nought but batters Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma added 92 runs for the second wicket before giving away their wickets in soft dismissals,a trend that was followed by the rest of the middle-order.

Left-arm spinner,Nashra Sandhu was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with figures of 2-36(10) and off-spinner Nida Dar also took two wickets in the middle.

Pakistan’s reply never gathered momentum as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals with the highest partnership of 28 runs coming from openers Sidra Ameen(30) and Javeria Khan(15).

Indian fast bowlers in tandem with their trio of spinners bowled Pakistan out for 137. Left-arm orthodox Rajeshwari Gayakwad stood out with figures of 4-31(10) and Sneh Rana came back with the ball to pick up wickets 2 for 27 runs.