Bowlers, Mandhana brush Pakistan aside for India's first points
India chase down the target of 100 with 38 balls to spare to improve their net run rate
India chase down the target of 100 with 38 balls to spare to improve their net run rate
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: Sreshth Shah
No presentation at the CWG, but if you're craving for more cricket this Sunday, then you've come to the right place. Jos Buttler has just won thetoss against South Africa in the 3rd T20I, Scotland are looking for a strong finish in their ODI against New Zealand, and Bangladesh are chasing a gettable total against Zimbabwe in Harare. Enjoy the action, and on behalf of Danyal and Vairavan, this is Sreshth saying bye bye.
2.22pm As for Pakistan, a forgettable Sunday. The big discussion point would be why they chose to bat first. Agreed that teams should go with their favourite strategy but it seemed that bowling first was the smartest choice, even if you prefer doing something else. The run-outs through the innings didn't help either, neither did the 49 dot balls in an 18-over innings.
Amit: "BRB-W should win against AUS to make this interesting"
2.15pm Now that's called domination. Mandhana finishes on an unbeaten 63 with a strike-rate of exactly 150. Her good friend Jemimah Rodrigues at the other end.
While Mandhana was the standout batter, Shafali's nine-ball 16 was also quite demoralising for Pakistan at the top. However, credit for India's win must go to their bowlers. Sneh Rana's 2 for 17 - including the wickets of Muneeba and Maroof - was the best spell of the day, but Radha, Renuka and Deepti kept things tight too. It's that sort of strangle that left Pakistan struggling for runs.
Pakistan are not eliminated yet, but they need an awful lot of things going their way to make the semis. India live to fight another day, and will hope Australia beat Barbados tonight for a direct knock-out fixture against the West Indian side in two days' time.
Paul: "Meghana isn't a pinch hitter! She's got the highest domestic list A average out of this bunch! Wanted a fast mithali? Here's a fast mithali"
Paul: "@giza8774 pretty bad take. Have a look at the combined domestic records from past 3 years and there will be a standout for average and strike rate combined. Yes she was out of sorts today, and?"
Giza8774: "S Meghana is the best Number 3 Powar could find? Seriously?" -- She hit a 47-ball 73 in the Women's T20 Challenge that happened earlier this year. She is a boundary hitter. And also a 10-ball 17 on very tricky Sri Lankan pitches. Has an ODI strike-rate of 108 too. Boundary hitters are as important as a consistent anchor/accumulator. Looks like this is what India want with Smriti, Harmanpreet, Jemimah, Deepti and Yastika also in the XI
Pakistan captain pins hopes on a women's PSL materialising next year to help develop the team's bench strength
The offspinner's double-wicket over derailed Pakistan's innings in Birmingham
India chase down the target of 100 with 38 balls to spare to improve their net run rate
Free of the media frenzy that surrounds the men's contests, the rivalry between the women's teams has largely been defined by camaraderie