Indian spinners dismantle Pakistan for historic low T20 score
Indian spinners completely dismantled their arch-rivals during Saturday's Women's Asia Cup match in Dubai, securing a crushing seven-wicket victory. Pakistan collapsed to just 55 runs all out, marking their lowest score in T20 international history. Chasing this small target, India wrapped up the game with 68 deliveries left to play, finishing at 57 for three. This dominant performance coincided with a historic milestone for Harmanpreet Kaur, who became the first player across both men's and women's cricket to captain a national side in 150 T20 international matches. Historically, matchups between these two nations draw huge global audiences, but this particular contest quickly turned into a completely one-sided affair.
Spinners Control Dubai Pitch
N Shree Charani set the tone early and earned Player of the Match honors with stunning figures of three wickets for just seven runs. Ranked as the top T20I bowler globally, she claimed two crucial wickets in her opening over. Her delivery completely deceived Gull Feroza, drawing the batter out before inducing a simple catch to point. Legspinner Prema Rawat provided phenomenal support, taking three wickets for nine runs in her four overs. Nineteen of her 24 deliveries were dot balls, showcasing her exceptional control through a unique front-of-hand release technique.
Playing their 200th T20 international, Pakistan started reasonably well before suffering a sudden and catastrophic collapse. They plummeted from 27 for no loss to 35 for six, losing those six wickets for a mere eight runs across 29 balls on a surface offering heavy turn. Shawaal Zulfiqar stood out as the only batter offering resistance, scoring 14 runs off 14 balls before falling lbw. During the chase, Fatima Sana gave Pakistan a brief glimmer of hope by capturing three wickets for 17 runs. This included the wicket of Shafali Verma, who proudly crossed the 3000-run mark in T20 internationals during her brief stay at the crease, and Smriti Mandhana via a close lbw decision. Ultimately, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma comfortably guided India past the finish line to secure the victory.
Indian Team Hurdle Before the Match
Photo Courtesy: BCCI
