Internet Desk: India women continued its dominance over Pakistan as they beat their arch rivals by 17 runs to win the Twenty-20 Asia Cup trophy sixth time consecutively in Bangkok on Sunday. The Indian eves successfully stopped the Pakistani women on 104/6 in twenty overs.
The back to back victory over Pakistan in a few days time was all the more sweet as it comes on the back of the International Cricket Council (ICC) docking India six points for skipping three matches against Pakistan in the ICC Women’s Championship.
Veteran Mithali Raj, who was removed as T-20 captain before the start of the tournament, made a statement with an unbeaten 73 to guide India to 121 for five in 20 overs.
The bowlers then bowled brilliantly to limit Pakistan to 104 for six, completing a comprehensive 17-run win. The star with ball once against was left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht, who took two wickets conceding 22 runs in her four overs.
Raj was instrumental in the team’s resounding success, amassing 220 runs in four innings to end as the tournament’s highest run scorer in the competition by some distance. Second in the list was Pakistan’s Javeria Khan with 128 runs in six innings.
Mithali kept calm in both tense games against Pakistan to help the team’s cause. Her 73 not out in the final was her highest score in the tournament and it came in quick time at the top of the order. She ended with a strike rate of 112, smashing seven fours and a six.
It was also an occasion where the veteran made amends for her slow batting during World T20 where India lost to arch-rivals.
With her showing, the 34-year-old displayed she still has a lot to offer in the T20 format after being sacked as captain to make way for Harmanpreet Kaur.
The new captain had a quiet tournament by her standards as the all-rounder failed to muster up a 30 plus score in six innings and took just two wickets.
Left-arm spinner Bisht came good for India with the ball, ending as the team’s most successful bowler with 10 wickets at an average of 5.20.
She along with the rest of the bowlers, ensured Pakistan never got close to the target.