In shadow of big clash, Pakistan women pip favourites India

The news is greeted by wild cheers in the Pakistani contingent. This surely is a seminal moment in the history of Pakistan women’s cricket, and rightfully called for celebrations.

Going by current form and experience, India were the clear favourites. Fresh from their emphatic 72-run win over Bangladesh in the opener four days ago. Their batters led by captain Mithali Raj were in splendid touch, and ahead of the high-profile ICC event, they had a base camp in Bengaluru.

If that was not enough, the girls were on the road since November last year, travelling to Australia, defeating them 2-1 in three T20s. Defeating a side like Australia at home was surely a morale booster for them. They then followed it up an emphatic 3-0 win against the Lankans at home in Ranchi.

Compared to India, Pakistan women’s team last played an international fixture against the West Indies in November last year. Even then, the results were far from flattering, being comprehensively beaten 3-0 in the T20s in the West Indies. Most observers believe their batting lacks the depth and flair the Indians possessed, and the lack of a competitive fixture in over four months also proved to be detrimental to their chances.

Low scores

A look at the batting averages of this Pakistan team is enough to put things in perspective. Barring Bismah Maroof, no one else in this squad has a batting average in excess of 20. Even an seasoned campaigner like Sana Mir has an average of a shade over 16, which is pretty abysmal by T20 standards. On the other hand, Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur, two vital cogs in the batting line-up boasts of an average of 35 and 41 respectively.

It therefore did not come as a surprise when ahead of the game against India, Mir conceded that batting was an area of concern.

On Saturday, Pakistan turned the tables on the fancied hosts to eke out a 2-run win over India – only their second win in 6 T20s.

This win, however, does not fully indicate the kind of dominance the girls from Pakistan had exerted on their Indian counterparts.

On a slow track at the Kotla, Mir won the toss and asked India to take first strike. Left-arm spinner Anam Amin, fresh from her four wicket haul against West Indies in the tournament opener, hit her straps immediately.

She bowled on a tight leash and gave no room to the Indian openers. Amin bowled accurately, and with a packed off-side field, both Mithali and Vanitha found it tough to penetrate in the infield. Runs came in a trickle. Such was their dominance that at the end of the Powerplay (6 overs), India had scored only 7 runs and had lost 2 wickets.

Mithali and the in-form Harmanpreet Kaur tried to push the scoring, but they whittled under the accuracy of the Pakistan spinners. The batters could neither time the ball or clear the infield. At the end of 10 overs, when India had trudged along to a mere 27 runs, it was not difficult to judge which team was in ascendancy.

India kept losing wickets at regular intervals, and barring the late order surge by Veda Krishnamurthy, even a score of 96 looked difficult at one stage. India could muster only 6 boundaries and a solitary six in their essay.

Chasing 97, Pakistan began with a flurry of boundaries in the opening over to set things in motion. At one stage, they were well placed at 1/46 in in eight overs, before Gayakwad and Kaur picked up two quick wickets to trigger a minor middle order collapse. However, neither the Indian bowlers nor the fielders were no where as disciplined as the Pakistanis.

India had their chance when captain Mithali plucked a brilliant catch at covers to dismiss a well set Iram Javed. All of a sudden from 3/70, Pakistan slipped to 6/77 in the space of two overs, to ignite India’s hopes briefly. That’s when the heavy gush of winds accompanied by rains poured water on chances of an India win.

Brief scores: India Women 96/7 in 20 overs (V Krishnamurthy 24, H Kaur 16, A Amin 1/9) lost to Pakistan Women 77/6 in 16 overs ( S Ameen 26, J Goswami 1/14)