Before the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match against Pakistan, India's net run rate (NRR) was -2.90. Betpro online was one of the platforms where fans could see match. But just one of those goals was accomplished by India on a steamy afternoon in Dubai; they defeated Pakistan by six wickets to secure two points and begin the innings with a plodding chase.
Arundhati Reddy and Shreyanka Patil combined for five of the eight wickets Pakistan lost, setting up the victory. Nida Dar scored 28 runs, but Pakistan sighed and puffed to 105. However, Pakistan also made good use of their spinners on a sluggish, spin-friendly surface, denying India the opening position.
They eventually won in the 19th over with just five fours struck, three by Shafali Verma and one each by Harmanpreet Kaur and S Sajana, who was filling in for the injured Pooja Vastrakar. Harmanpreet, demoted to one-down in the first game, was back at her usual No. 4 position and the only Indian batter in the top six with a strike rate exceeding 100.
Pakistan demonstrates an early intention.
On the eve of the match, Pakistani captain Fatima Sana talked about hitting hard at their opponents by employing the power game. Gull Feroza lost the opening despite her attempt to use her foot to block Renuka Singh's swing.
In addition, Muneeba Ali utilized the crease so frequently that the runs hardly made sense. As she did twice against Renuka inside the powerplay, she used the smallest width to cross the in-field.
India, led by Reddy, 'turns' the tide.
She immediately created a fake stroke, which Sidra Amin chipped in the middle of the shot. Reddy struck the ideal blow in her subsequent over, forcing Muneeba to scoop one straight to a short fine leg, only for S Asha to bale out. However, Reddy struck after a few balls when Omaima Sohail misplayed one to mid-off.
Muneeba was restrained for a few calm overs, and Patil took advantage of the opportunity to get among the wickets. She delivered a broader outside off, anticipating a charge from the Pakistan opener. Muneeba went by it, and Richa Ghosh completed the task. Dar struggled a little to keep the scorecard running independently, and her frequent partner losses did not make it any easier.
Before Patil removed Tuba Hassan for a three-ball duck, Reddy initially trapped Aliya Riaz in front. The DRS did not come to the Pakistan all-rounder's help as Hawk-Eye indicated it to be clipping the leg.
Sana showed some intent and hit two consecutive fours off Asha, but Ghosh made an excellent catch to end the innings. She attempted to force the legspinner out of the ground, but Ghosh dove to her right and removed a stunning blow with one hand; after that, Reddy bowled Dar to get her third.
India's peculiar pursuit
India needed to surpass the 106-run goal in 11.2 overs to get their NRR in the black. But India saw a boundaryless power struggle, with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali finding it difficult to contain their emotions. Mandhana struck some clean blows but was dismissed after hitting nine out of ten balls on the pitch. She gave one timid backward point chip in an attempt to get loose.
Sana, on cue, bowled 13 of the first 15 overs with spin. Shafali was irritated by their slow pace, which caused her to overlook putting away some of the delicious full tosses. In the eighth over, Shafali welcomed Tuba with a pull-through midwicket, ending India's run of boundary drought. After hitting a few more fours, she honed in on long-on.
Jemimah Rodrigues, batting at No. 3 ahead of Harmanpreet, continued maneuvering the pitch, bringing India one run closer. Boundaries were challenging to come by, though, and when India lost her and Ghosh in consecutive balls, it appeared Pakistan might do the unimaginable.
With Deepti Sharma by her side, Harmanpreet came dangerously close to seeing India. But turning awkwardly to avoid being stumped, she wrenched her neck and walked back, hurt. Then, in the women's T20Is, Sajana struck the game-winning four to help India keep the lead against Pakistan.
