Heartbreak for Indian eves

New Delhi, The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry can’t be without its fair share of drama, intensity and nervous moments. The India-Pakistan women’s teams’ clash in the World T20 at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground on Saturday wasn’t short of either of these essential ingredients.
The game was heading towards a nail-biting finish, with the Pakistan women needing another 20 runs off 24 balls in their pursuit of a 97-run victory target. Having restricted the Indian batting juggernaut to a paltry 96 runs in 20 overs, Pakistan were huffing and puffing their way to the finishing line just when the heavens opened up at 6:13 pm. Pakistan, at 77 for 6, were just two runs ahead of the par score of 75 as per the Duckworth-Lewis method. The ICC’s cut-off time was 6:55pm to prepare the stadium. The rain stopped around 6:40 pm. But in the end the efforts mounted by the groundsmen fell little short of the ICC’s deadline.
And, when the confirmation came from match-referee Andy Pycroft, wild celebrations started in the Pakistan camp. The win marked another historic chapter in the Pakistan women’s cricket. This is Pakistan’s second win over India in seven T20I meetings, and it wouldn’t have come at a more opportune time after narrowly losing the opener against West Indies.
Though it was a sort of anti-climax for the 7000-odd spectators, who were robbed of a thrilling finish, the Pakistan women were more than comfortable with the arrangement. Their batswomen had started crumbling under the intense pressure in the dying moments of the game.
India, who had won their opener, stay put at the top of the points table due to their better net run-rate.
India vs Pakistan (women)
New Delhi. Toss: Pakistan (Fielded)
India
Batswoman Runs Balls
Mithali c Sidra b Nida 16 35
Vanitha c Sana b Anam 2 7
Smriti lbw b Asmavia 1 4
Harmanpreet c Sidra b Sadia 16 29
Veda c & b Sana 24 19
Jhulan run out (Asmavia) 14 14
Anuja run out (Asmavia) 3 5
Shikha not out 10 7
Extras: (lb 1, w 9) 10
Total: (7 wickets; 20 overs) 96
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-5, 3-34, 4-49, 5-71, 6-80, 7-96
Bowling
Bowler Overs Mdns Runs Wkts Econ
Anam 4 0 9 1 2.25
Asmavia 4 0 13 1 3.25
Sana 4 0 14 1 3.50
Sadia 3 0 24 1 8.00
Bismah 2 0 12 0 6.00
Nida 3 0 23 1 7.66
Pakistan
Batswoman Runs Balls
Nahida c Harmanpreet b Shikha 14 15
Sidra b Rajeshwari 26 26
Bismah c Jhulan b Harmanpreet 5 18
Muneeba not out 12 16
Iram c Mithali b Jhulan 10 14
Asmavia run out (Smriti) 5 6
Sana run out (Sushma) 0 1
Nida not out 0 0
Extras: (b 1, w 4) 5
Total: (6 wickets; 16 overs) 77
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-48, 3-50, 4-71, 5-77, 6-77
Bowling
Bowler Overs Mdns Runs Wkts Econ
Anuja 3 0 14 0 4.66
Rajeshwari 2 0 11 1 5.50
Shikha 2 0 14 1 7.00
Jhulan 4 0 14 1 3.50
Poonam 3 0 14 0 4.66
Harmanpreet 2 0 9 1 4.50
Player of the Match: Anam Amin