Defending champions of the Women’s Asia Cup, India women started their campaign in this edition in a commanding manner in their opening game against traditional rivals, Pakistan women on 19th July 2024 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
Batting first on a flat and dry surface, Pakistan women had a dreadful 1st innings. Nida Dar and co. managed to score only 108 runs and it was the Indian team, who were in the driving seat of the game.
It often feels like the rivalry between India and Pakistan in women’s cricket lacks the feistiness and energy, which is prevalent in men’s cricket. The gulf between the two sides has always been the main cause of concern for all the financial stakeholders.
India women, as always, dominated the contest and edged past Pakistan women by 7 wickets in the opening game of their campaign.
The Indian spinners set the ball rolling and the likes of Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil topped the bowling charts with 5 wickets between themselves. Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar played well too and bagged 2 wickets each.
For Pakistan women, it was Sidra Amin, Tuba Hassan and Fatima Sana, who scored 25, 22 and 22* runs respectively, to give something for the bowlers to defend.
The Indian openers stole the limelight
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Varma mustered knocks of 45 and 40 runs and ensured India’s smooth path to victory. They were quickfire in their approach and didn’t break a sweat during their innings.
Dayalan Hemalatha scored 14 runs in 11 balls and played her cameo before skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues, finished things for India.
Syeda Aroob Shah took the wickets of the Indian openers but it was a lost cause as it was the Indian team, who had the last laugh in Dambulla.
In 14 T20I matches now, India women have a huge 11-3 lead and have been bossing the entire rivalry. The rivalry seems fabricated and is definitely, not organic.
Also read: IND-W vs UAE-W, Match 5, Today Match Prediction, Women’s Asia Cup 2024, 21st July 2024