BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) – Deepti Sharma took five wickets as India beat Pakistan by 106 wickets to successfully start their latest quest for a maiden Women’s Twenty20 World Cup title on Sunday.
Sharma spun off the last three wickets in five balls and India defended 170 and won by 64 runs in front of a partisan Edgbaston crowd. It was a sold-out crowd of 18,814 people, a record attendance for a World Cup group match.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh chased the record on the same pitch and won their first World Cup match in the Netherlands. Bangladesh, who had never scored more than 126 in a World Cup chase, reached 141-4 with five balls remaining.
Sharma leads Mandana India
Seven months after Sharma helped India win the ODI World Cup final with five wickets and 58 runs, she started this T20 World Cup with an outstanding performance as well.
Sharma actually got off to a strong start, taking the first two wickets of Pakistan’s chase. But by the 10th over, India were on top and it took Muneeb Ali, who fell twice, for Pakistan to make a big leap forward. However, Sharma took a brilliant direct hit with a run from the backward point and got Ali out for 41 in 11 overs.
When Pakistan captain Fatima Sana collapsed at 77-5 in the next over, her team was also eliminated.
Sharma had a second-half burst of 5 wins and 10 losses, scoring 166 points and becoming the highest wicket-taker in the women’s T20s. Shree Chalani supported her with 3 wins and 21 losses.
“I always believe in myself that I can step up when the time is right,” Sharma said.
India has dominated the rivalry with Pakistan in the World Cup, but unlike the men, the women have been competitive. However, like the men, the women also did not shake hands before or after this match.
India struggled in the powerplay and were inspired by Smriti Mandhana batting for her life with a drop on 27 off 24 balls. Mandhana needed just 10 more balls to reach 50 balls.
She was dropped again at 55 degrees and top edged onto her own helmet, forcing a concussion check. She passes and hits her ninth boundary, beating a nice low grab from Sana.
Mandhana’s wicket total was 36 and a mini-collapse began, including captain Harmanpreet Kaur. India started at 132-5 in the 19 overs hoping for 150.
It was then that Richa Ghosh exploded with 34 off 17 balls. Along with Sharma, he took 23 points from Tasmia Lubavu, who was playing in her first World Cup appearance.
“If it were in my hands, I would love to send (Ghosh) to the first pitch,” Kaur said. “But she has a role to play, and she’s doing it well.”
Sana lost 15 in the final over and the target of 171 looked tough considering Pakistan’s history. It has been 10 years since Pakistan last defeated their neighbors in the T20 World Cup.
Ferdus skins the Netherlands
Bangladesh responded to Holland’s 139-8 and were forced into the final over despite a fine platform from lead-off batsman Huairiya Ferdous, who hit his second fifty since making his T20 debut in January.
Ferdous made 26 of his first 27 shots and 33 of 47 on the power play. However, even at the age of 20, he had two lives. On the 7th, the third umpire arguably ruled out Stere Kallis’ deep midwicket catch, and on the 18th, Ferdous was dropped.
Both of her six balls went over the midwicket rope and by the time she was 50 off 33 balls at 67-1 in eight overs, Bangladesh were almost halfway home.
Dutch spinners Silver, Heather Segars and Caroline de Lange (2-27) slowed Bangladesh’s pace but did not become persistent. Sharmin Akhter and Shona Akhter’s 56-match unbeaten partnership helped Bangladesh win the T20 World Cup for the fourth time in seven tournaments.
Dutch captain Babette de Lied won the toss and the No. 3 batsman kept his team together with 50 off 45 balls until the 17th over when he ran out of steam trying to get his second run.
Bangladesh’s attack was led by medium pacers Marfa Akhter (2-31) and Ritu Moni (1-17).
New Zealand v Sri Lanka and England v Ireland will be played on Tuesday.
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