Mount Maunganui March 6 2022: India beat arch-rivals Pakistan by 107 runs in their opening game of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022 in Mount Maunganui.
The win extends India's unbeaten run against Pakistan in Women's ODIs, making it 11 wins out of 11.
The massive 107-run victory gives a huge early boost to India's net run rate, putting their first points on board in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup standings.
India had to fight back from a precarious position when they found themselves at 114/6 in the 34th over after a middle-order collapse. Pooja Vastrakar and Sneh Rana put on a 122-run partnership to spur India to a respectable total.
In reply, Pakistan's chase never took off as Indian bowlers, led by Rajeshwari Gayakwad's four-for, were at the top of their game and restricted Pakistan to 137 all out in 43 overs.
India reaped the benefits of some tight bowling early on, limiting Pakistan to just 26/0 at the end of the Powerplay. Pacers Jhulan Goswami and Meghna Singh didn't give the batters an inch, choking the flow of runs early on to stifle Pakistan. The pressure eventually got to the openers as Javeria Khan departed in the 11th over, trying to take the aerial route.
The spinners continued to keep a lid on the scoring, with Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana picking up prized scalps of skipper Bismah Maroof and Omaima Sohail respectively.
Brought back into the attack, Goswami got in on the action immediately, dismissing the set batter Sidra Ameen caught behind. Pakistan soon lost half their side as the veteran pacer struck again in her next over to remove Nida Dar for 4.
There was no coming back for Pakistan after losing wickets in heaps. Gayakwad was on song and almost unplayable at times as she had the batters on strings.
If there were any hopes of a comeback, she put them to rest with the wickets of Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana and Sidra Nawaz in an incredible spell of spin bowling. She finished with figures of 4/31 in her 10 overs.
The final wicket partnership of 23 between Diana Baig and Anam Amin only delayed the inevitable. Meghna returned to pick up the final wicket of Baig as Pakistan were rolled over for 137.
Earlier in the day, India, after opting to bat, were reduced to 114/6 at one point, but Vastrakar and Rana put on a 122-run stand – the highest for the seventh wicket in ICC Women's Cricket World Cups – to help boost the total to 244/7.
India got off to a decent start, despite the loss of Shafali Verma in the third over, with Smriti Mandhana and Deepti putting on 92 runs for the second wicket.
However, the duo was dismissed within a few overs of each other. Deepti missed a sweep and was bowled by Nashra Sundhu for 40, and Mandhana followed suit 13 balls later, chipping a return catch to Amin.
The duo had laid a strong foundation for India, but the rest of the batters couldn't capitalise. Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed in the 29th over for a 14-ball 5, trapped in front by veteran all-rounder Nida Dar.
Richa Ghosh was cleaned up by Dar two overs later, before captain Mithali Raj, who had been looking to anchor the innings, fell for a 36-ball 9 when attempting to release the pressure with a slog. India were 114/6.
Pakistan had their tails up as India ran the risk of being bundled out for a small total. However, Rana and Vastrakar displayed immense grit to pull India out of trouble.
They batted through the pressure, ensuring quick singles were taken at every opportunity and managed to release pressure with hits to the fence whenever a delivery missed the mark.
They dragged India back into the contest, each scoring half-centuries within a few deliveries of each other. For Rana, it was a maiden ODI half-century. Vastrakar's 67 was only her second ODI half-century. This was a defining partnership, and the applause from the dugout when the stand cross the 100-run mark was telling.
Vastrakar fell in the final over, attempting a big hit. Rana ended unbeaten on 53*, giving India something to bowl at.