(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
India Defeat Pakistan by 64 Runs in Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Opener
India began their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a commanding 64-run victory over Pakistan in their Group A match at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Batting first, India posted a strong total, led by Smriti Mandhana’s fluent 68 off 44 balls. She played an attacking innings featuring nine fours and two sixes and benefited from a couple of early dropped chances.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed 36 runs, while wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh added a quick 34 to maintain the scoring momentum and put pressure on the Pakistan bowling attack.
Chasing the target, Pakistan struggled to build partnerships as India’s spin bowlers took control of the match. Deepti Sharma delivered an outstanding performance, finishing with figures of 5 for 10 and playing a key role in dismantling the batting lineup.
Pakistan’s innings was anchored briefly by Muneeba Ali, who top-scored with 41, but regular wickets halted any chance of a successful chase. The team collapsed from 75 for 3 to 79 for 6 as India maintained control throughout the innings.
Leg-spinner Sree Charani also made a significant impact, taking three wickets to further restrict Pakistan’s scoring.
India’s disciplined bowling and strong batting display ensured a comfortable win, giving them an ideal start to the tournament and a boost in net run rate.
After the match, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised her team’s all-round performance, highlighting contributions from both Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma.
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana acknowledged her team’s struggles, particularly in batting and fielding, and stressed the need for improvement as the tournament progresses.
The match drew a record crowd of 18,814 spectators for a Women’s T20 World Cup group-stage game, surpassing the previous attendance record set in 2024.
