India Secures Victory Against Pakistan in Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

In a thrilling group stage encounter at the Dubai International Stadium on October 6, 2024, India Women's cricket team triumphed over their arch-rivals Pakistan by securing a six-wicket victory in the Women's T20 World Cup. Chasing a target of 106, India completed their innings with 7 balls to spare, enhancing their position in the tournament.

The Indian team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, displayed a resilient performance with Shafali Verma leading the batting lineup by scoring 32 runs. Harmanpreet Kaur, despite retiring hurt due to a neck sprain, added a crucial 29 runs to the team’s tally, which proved pivotal for India’s victory.

India’s bowling unit, spearheaded by Arundhati Reddy who took three wickets, managed to restrict Pakistan to a modest total of 105 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. Shreyanka Patil also shone with the ball, claiming two important wickets, while Renuka Thakur, Deepti Sharma, and Asha Sobhana each contributed with one wicket apiece.

The Pakistan side elected to bat first but struggled to score on a slow, spin-friendly pitch. Nida Dar emerged as the top-scorer for Pakistan with 28 runs but found little support from her teammates, leading to a relatively low total.

Throughout Pakistan’s innings, India capitalized on their bowling prowess with strategic field placements and disciplined deliveries. Reddy was instrumental in her role, despite later facing disciplinary action for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct. She was reprimanded and handed a demerit point for making an inappropriate gesture towards the pavilion after dismissing Nida Dar.

India’s chase, however, was not without its challenges. The team endured a boundary-less powerplay and faced consistent pressure from Pakistan’s bowlers, notably Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal. The Indian batters persisted, with strategic plays and rotations from Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma setting the stage for a successful chase.

As the game progressed, the action intensified with key dismissals but Sajana’s decisive four in the 19th over ultimately sealed the victory for India. The win was not only a morale booster but essential for India’s standing in the tournament standings.