The world’s best all-rounder and India’s best as well, Deepti Sharma, stood up under pressure and delivered under pressure. Deepti Sharma played an important role with the bat, scoring crucial runs in the death overs. Then she shone with the ball and in the field. But before all of that, India won the toss and decided to bat first. Shafali Verma went early, while Smriti Mandhana, after being dropped, showed her class and led the way for India. Her 68 runs off 44 balls, alongside contributions from other players like Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh, meant that India finished with 170/6 in 20 overs.
In reply, Pakistan began well with Muneeba Ali doing the bulk of the scoring. But soon, spin took control post the power play as Deepti Sharma led the way with her five-wicket haul while Shree Charani finished with 3 wickets. Shafali Verma got one wicket, and the run out of Muneeba by Deepti Sharma meant Pakistan were bowled out for 106 in 17 overs. India won the contest by 64 runs and is in 2nd place in the points table.
Smriti Mandhana’s Masterful 68 powers India to 170/6 in 20 overs
Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana came out to open for India while Sadia Iqbal had the ball in hand for Pakistan. Shafali started with the maximum off the first ball of the match. But Sadia hit back in the fifth ball of the over. The opening partnership was just 6 when Shafali fell for 6 off 5 balls with a maximum to her name to Sadia Iqbal. Jemimah Rodrigues came out to bat next.
Jemimah did not last long. Smriti did the bulk of the scoring in the 12-run stand for the second wicket before Rodrigues fell for 1 off 7 balls to Tasmia Rubab. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur came out to bat next. The captain and vice-captain had to rebuild the innings for India. Mandhana looked good while Kaur took her time. The duo played through to the end of the power play with India reaching 38/2 in 10 overs. The duo carried on beyond that as Mandhana got a reprieve when batting on 28, as Pakistan were left to rue that missed chance.
The duo carried on and aced the middle phase as well. India reached 65/2 in 10 overs at the halfway stage of the contest in the first innings. Harmanpreet set herself in while Smriti looked a class apart with her half-century as she looked really good out there in the middle. Smriti was again dropped on 61 when the fielder in the deep dropped and parried it for the maximum. Smriti and Kaur put on 91 runs for the third wicket before Mandhana fell for 68 off 44 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes to her name to Rameen Shamim. Bharti Fulmali came out to bat next.
Fulmali did not last long, as just one run was added to the score before she fell for 1 off 3 balls to Sadia. Richa Ghosh came out to bat next. Kaur and Richa Ghosh tried to forge some sort of a partnership and added 13 runs for the 5th wicket before Kaur fell for 36 off 35 balls with 4 fours to her name to Fatima Sana, her opposite number. Deepti Sharma came out to bat next. We were in the end overs now.
Pakistan had pulled things back and had India at 132/6 in 18 overs. But then the 23-run 19th over, where Richa Ghosh went berserk, proved to be the shift in momentum for India’s point of view as Shamim went for plenty. The last over bowled by Sana also went for 15 runs. India scored 38 in the last two overs and took the momentum away totally. The duo put on 45 for the 6th wicket in 21 balls before Richa Ghosh was cleaned up by Sana for 34 off 17 balls with 5 fours and one six to her name.
Shreyanka Patil came out to bat next and managed to get a wide and a single off the last ball of the innings. 2 runs were scored unbeaten for the 7th wicket off 1 ball as India ended with a competitive 170/6 in 20 overs. Deepti remained unbeaten on 12 off 9 balls with one four to her name, while Patil was unbeaten on 1 off 1 ball. 11 extras given by the fielding side.
The Pakistan bowlers bowled decently out there. Captain Fatima Sana was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/33 in 4 overs. Sadia Iqbal finished with 2/41 in 4 overs. Rameen Shamim finished with 1/30 in 4 overs. Tasmia Rubab finished with 1/41 in 4 overs. Nashra Sandhu finished with 0/25 in 4 overs. This meant Pakistan were set a challenging and record chase of 171 runs to win off 20 overs.
Deepti Sharma’s 5-wicket haul skittles Pakistan out for 106 in 17 overs
Chasing 171 for the win, keeper batter Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza came out to open for Pakistan while Arundhati Reddy had the ball in hand for India. Pakistan got off to a blazing start courtesy of Muneeba Ali. She was the standout batter for Pakistan this afternoon. She held the innings as much as she could, as Pakistan had the better of India in power play overs.
The duo gave Pakistan a blazing start as 37 runs were scored in the first 4 overs. The opening duo put on 38 for the first wicket before Feroza fell for 12 off 9 balls with 2 fours to her name to Deepti Sharma. Ayesha Zafar came out to bat next. Muneeba was dominating the proceedings while her partners were playing second fiddle. Even Muneeba was dropped twice first, by keeper Richa Ghosh and then by Bharti Fulmali.
Pakistan were terrific in power play as they scored 52/1 in 6 overs compared to India’s 38/2 in their power play. The duo of Muneeba and Zafar put on 15 runs for the second wicket before Zafar fell for 12 off 8 balls, with 2 fours to her name, to Deepti Sharma yet again. Saira Jabeen came out to bat next. Jabeen did not last long either, as just 5 runs were added to the tally before she fell for 2 off 3 balls to Shree Charani. Natalia Pervaiz came out to bat next.
Pervaiz survived a close LBW call as the umpire’s call went in favour of her. Muneeba kept the fight and light going for Pakistan as the Women in Green went to 72/3 in 10 overs and needed 99 runs off 60 balls. Muneeba and Pervaiz put on 17 runs for the 4th wicket before Muneeba was brilliantly run out for 41 off 35 balls with 5 fours to her name, thanks to a brilliant direct hit from Deepti Sharma. Captain Fatima Sana came out to bat next.
The wickets started to fall now, post Muneeba’s dismissal. Just 2 runs were added to the score before Sana, the skipper, fell for a bronze duck to Shafali Verma. Aliya Riaz came out to bat next. Another one bit the dust as just another 2 runs were added to the score before Pervaiz fell for 7 off 13 balls to Charani. Rameen Shamim came out to bat next. Riaz showed some resistance as the writing was now fully on the wall. The duo added 12 runs for the 7th wicket before Shamim fell for 4 off 6 balls to Charani again. Nashra Sandhu came out to bat next.
Riaz continued to fight for the cause. She added 14 runs for the 8th wicket before Riaz fell for 18 off 17 balls, with one four to her name to Deepti Sharma. Tasmia Rubab came out to bat next and fell for a silver duck as Deepti had two in the over. Sadia Iqbal came out to bat next and got off the mark to get to the other end. Nashra was the last woman out as just one run was added for the final wicket before she fell for 4 off 5 balls to Deepti Sharma, who ended with a 5-wicket haul.
Sadia remained unbeaten on 1 off 1 ball as Pakistan were bowled out for 106 in 17 overs. 5 extras given by India. From India’s bowling point of view, Deepti Sharma was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 5/10 in 4 overs. Shree Charani gave her able support with figures of 3/21 in 4 overs. Shafali Verma finished with 1/22 in 3 overs. Shreyanka Patil finished with figures of 0/17 in 3 overs. Arundhati Reddy finished with 0/21 in 2 overs. Kranti Gaud finished with 0/14 in 1 over. So, India thrashed Pakistan by 64 runs to move 2nd in the points table behind Australia in Group A. Deepti Sharma was awarded the Player of the Match Award.
What Lies Ahead
So, India will next face the Netherlands in Leeds, Headingley on Wednesday, 17th June 2026. Monday is a day off in the Women’s World Cup 2026. Tuesday, the action resumes with New Zealand vs Sri Lanka at 7 PM IST, followed by the hosts England facing Ireland at 11 PM IST. Both matches take place at Southampton. Both are Group B games. So, plenty to look forward to on Tuesday evening.
Also Read: ICC Women’s T20 WC 2026: India Aims To Win Maiden Crown