One-Way Traffic as India Demolish Pakistan in Dubai

India turned out to be in clinical form in Dubai on Saturday as they knocked out Pakistan in the Women's Asia Cup encounter with a great deal of ease. Pakistan's batting struggled under pressure as they were bowled out for a mere 55 runs, the lowest-ever Women's T20I score for Pakistan, in reply to India's 141. Achieved the target in 8.4 overs with ease, India registered a seven-wicket win to keep their 100 per cent record in the league phase and secure the top spot in group A. The host's captain Fatima Sana did manage to prevent the run-out by claiming three quick wickets but Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma steadied the innings to guide India home without any more concerns. Choosing to bat first, Pakistan actually began in decent fashion. Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar put together a 27-run opening stand, with Muneeba surviving a couple of let-offs along the way, including a sitter grassed at cover-point. That platform didn't last, though. Shafali Verma made the first breakthrough in the fifth over, cleaning up Muneeba for 13, and from there Pakistan's innings simply unravelled. Gull Feroza was caught behind the stumps in the same over after charging down the track, and Zulfiqar — who had looked the more assured of the two openers with three boundaries to her name — was trapped in front soon after. Ayesha Zafar didn't last long either, holing out to Harmanpreet at mid-on, and Pakistan suddenly found themselves four wickets down for just 32.

The slide only got worse from there. Sadaf Shamas was bowled attempting an ambitious slog, and Fatima Sana herself fell lbw the very next over, leaving Pakistan tottering at 35 for 6. A brief 10-run stand between Eyman Fatima and Umm-e-Hani was the closest things the hosts could muster in a fightback, but neither was around for long. Eyman was run out, and Umm-e-Hani top-edged a sweep straight to a fielder. Soon enough, Nashra Sandhu was off the mark for a duck, and the innings was folded thanks to Deepti Sharma, who had the last batter stumped, Pakistan all out for 55 in just over 18 overs. Shree Charani and Prema Rawat were the pick bowlers with three wickets each as Deepti also contributed two. Chase the modest total, and India wasted no time declaring their intentions. Shafali Verma smashed the first ball of the innings for six, and then smashed her way into history, by becoming the youngest-ever player in terms of age to reach 3,000 runs in Women's T20I, clearing her 22 years and 220 days young on the day. The hosts put on a brief fightback through their captain, who saw both Shafali and Pratika Rawal fall inside an over before also clipping the stumps of Smriti Mandhana soon after. For a moment, there was a flicker of hope for Pakistan — but it didn't last.

Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma took over from there, playing sensibly and picking their moments rather than forcing the pace. Deepti broke a quiet stretch with a slog-swept boundary, and soon after, Harmanpreet — playing her 150th match as India's T20I captain — finished things off in style with a six down the ground. It was a fitting end to a dominant display, as India wrapped up the chase in just 8.4 overs to complete a seven-wicket win and top their group heading into the knockout stages.