Internet Desk: Indian eves registered a comprehensive 95-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan to clinch their third successive win in the women’s cricket World Cup today. Indian Women’s team faced Pakistan ten times in the ODIs and beat them in all the matches.
Ekta Bisht was the star of the match as she took (5/18) to break the Pakistan middle order. Pacer Mansi Joshi took (2/9) as she bagged the last wicket of Pakistan. Jhulan Goswami, Deepti Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur backed them well as they shared one wicket each to destroy the Pakistani batting order.
Earlier, India skipper Mithali Raj won the toss and choose to bat first. Pakistan bowler’s bowled brilliantly to restrict the Indian eves for 169/9 in 50 overs.
India never had any momentum in their innings once in-form Smriti Mandhana (2) was dismissed cheaply. Worse, skipper Mithali Raj (8) and her deputy Harmanpreet Kaur (10) could not also score too many runs, making it difficult for the other players to accelerate.
Opener Poonam Raut (48) consumed 72 balls while Deepti Sharma fared no better playing 63 balls for a sedate 28.
It was keeper Sushma Verma (33 off 35 balls), who used the long handle to get the team near 170-run mark.
One of the main reasons for India not being able to get past 200-run mark was because of a very slow fifth wicket partnership between Mona Meshram (6, 35 balls) and Harmanpreet (10, 23 balls). They were together for 8 overs (between 26.3 and 34.3) which yielded only 13 runs.
While Harmanpreet was finding it difficult to hit big as she is playing with a finger injury, Meshram just could not pick the singles.
India will face Sri Lanka in their next match of the tournament.