64 courses of hammering! Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh sank Pakistan as India opened the T20 World Cup with a big win

Deepti Sharma tries to run out Pakistan’s Natalia Parvaiz during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Group 1 cricket match between India and Pakistan in Birmingham, England. Smriti Mandhana hit 68 and Deepti Sharma claimed a career-best five-wicket haul as India opened their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a 64-run win over Pakistan at Edgbaston on Sunday.Mandhana’s 68 off 44 balls and Richa Ghosh’s 34 off 17 deliveries helped India post 170 for 6 after being asked to bat. In reply, Pakistan were bundled out for 106 in 17 overs, with Muneeba Ali’s 41 off 35 balls being their highest score.Deepti played with the ball returning figures of 5 for 10 in her four overs. Besides, she also became the highest wicket taker in the history of women’s T20 Internationals during the match. Left-arm spinner Shree Charani supported her well with figures of 3 for 21 while Shafali Verma chipped in with a wicket.Pakistan never managed to gain any momentum in the chase. Muneeba looked comfortable at the crease before her innings ended with a direct hit from Deepti.With the match being played on a used Edgbaston surface, the Indian bowlers took full advantage of the conditions. The pitch offered some turn and grip which made it difficult for the Pakistani batsmen to play the stroke.Earlier, India found themselves under pressure at 18 for 2 after losing Shafali Verma for 6 and Jemima Rodrigues for 1. Mandhana and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur then leveled the innings with a partnership of 91 for the third wicket.India were 30 for 2 at the end of the over before the pair stepped up. Mandhana reached her half-century in 34 balls and finished with nine fours and two sixes.She got two chances during her shift. She was first dropped in the middle off the bowling of Tasmie Rubab. Another chance later came at a wide long-off off the bowling of Sadia Iqbal, with the ball slipping between the fielder’s hands for a six.Mandhana’s innings ended when she mis-shot Rameen Shamim and Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana completed the catch.Harmanpreet contributed 36 off 35 balls before falling to Sana, while Bharti Fulmali was stumped for a duck soon after Mandhan’s dismissal.Richa Ghosh then provided a late push with a quickfire 34. India collected 23 runs from the penultimate over off the bowling of Rubab to help them reach 170 for 6.For Pakistan, Sadia Iqbal picked 2 for 41 and captain Fatima Sana returned figures of 2 for 33.The Indian bowlers then took control and Deepti led the way as Pakistan were bowled out for 106, giving India a comfortable victory in the tournament opener.