India-W thrash Pakistan-W in lopsided T20 World Cup 2026 clash
Team India got off to a roaring start in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup as they drubbed Pakistan in a clash of arch-rivals emphatically. In their opening battle in Birmingham, the Indian women delivered a solid all-round show that left Pakistan wobbling.
Winning the toss, India opted to bat first. Much to their woes, India lost a couple of early wickets through Shafali Verma (6) and Jemimah Rodrigues (1). Wobbling at 18/2, Smriti Mandhana (68) was joined by her captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
The two looked in great control, shifting gears exactly as the situation commanded. The two added 91 runs for the third wicket, steadying the ship that was rocked early. Mandhana completed her 33rd half-century in the shortest format of the game while Harmanpreet Kaur scored a well-orchestrated 36 during her stay in the center.
India had another hiccup as they lost three quick wickets in a cluster. The fall of Mandhana was followed by the departure of Bharti Fulmali (1) and Kaur in quick succession. Despite the growing fears of a possible collapse, an incoming Richa Ghosh calmed down the frayed nerves with another assertive knock.
Ghosh smashed 34 off just 17 balls, clobbering five fours and a six. By the time Fatima Sana could peg back the stumps, India already had a significant total on the board. By the end of their 20 overs, the Women in Blue totted up 170/6.
Shooting down a mammoth total needed a solid start from Pakistan and they did get that. Muneeba Ali (41) and Gull Feroza (12) showed decent chemistry between them. The duo knitted together a stand of 38 runs from the first five overs before Deepti Sharma drew first blood for India.
She got the better of Feroza, forcing open the floodgates. Sharma struck again to remove Ayesha Zafar (12) while Sree Charani joined the act to get the better of Saira Jabeen (2). Wobbling at 58/3, Pakistan needed something special to steady the ship.
Muneeba Ali did try and push as hard as possible but it was Deepti Sharma who got her run-out and that was the last nail of resistance deracinated by India. From there it was only a descent into a downward spiral and Pakistan eventually got bowled out for 106 from just 17 overs. Deepti Sharma registered a fifer in the opening game itself and that was the peak of the Indian bowling.
India registered a monumental win by 64 runs while Sharma bagged the Player of the Match award for her incredible bowling performance. The win placed India in the second position of the points table in Group A with a NRR of +3.200.
