India women apply the famous spin choke to complete a routine win over a listless Pakistan

Results in brief: India (56/3 in 8.4 overs) beat Pakistan (55-all in 18.1 overs) by 7 wickets in Dubai in a Group A match of the Women’s Asia Cup.

Highlights | Scorecard

Always starting favorites against Pakistan in the Women’s Asia Cup, India played like a team fully aware of the gulf between the two sides on Saturday. At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in a contest that quickly became one-sided.

Similar to their encounter in the Women’s World Cup T20 earlier this year, India once again used spin to stifle Pakistan’s batting. The only difference this time was how quickly Pakistan’s innings fell apart. From 27.0. they collapsed for 55 and lost their last 10 wickets for just 28 runs — their lowest ever total in a Women’s T20I.

India was not flawless. They dropped catches and conceded unnecessary inroads through the error fields, but Pakistan failed to capitalize on these opportunities. Once the Indian spinners settled into their work, the pressure became too much for Pakistan’s batting line-up, which had no answers.

It was the perfect way for Harmanpreet Kaur to mark her 150th T20I as captain. Pakistan, meanwhile, will be looking to forget their 200th women’s T20I, with their defeat also extending India’s dominance in the Women’s Asia Cup to a 7-1 head-to-head record.

PAKISTAN’S PROMISING START CRASHES

Pakistan initially looked capable of putting up a fight. Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar put together a steady opening partnership, surviving India’s early questions and gradually finding ways to score.

Kranti Gaud started with a wide but quickly found her rhythm and produced an excellent delivery with a swinging seam to beat Muneeba. However, India was far from the best in this field. A mix-up at cover allowed Pakistan to get three runs while Pratika Rawal then bowled a direct chance offered by Muneeba. Another misfield in the middle of the game added to the early frustration.

Nandani Sharma kept the openers under pressure with her round arm and sharp swing but Zulfiqar started to find her reach. She lifted Nandani over mid on for the first boundary and soon after found the fence again as Muneeba kept the scoreboard moving.

Pakistan got off to a promising start, but the platform disappeared almost as quickly as it was built.

Shafali Verma provided the breakthrough as Muneeba played 13 after the Pakistan opener created too much space. This release opened the floodgates.

INDIA SPINNERS TIGHTEN THE CHOKE HANDLE

Prema Rawat picked up 3 wickets against Pakistan. Courtesy: BCCI Women

Shree Charani then produced a spell that effectively broke Pakistan’s innings. She fooled Gull Feroza with flight, dive and turn before catching Zulfiqar lbw. Ayesha Zafar followed soon after when she failed to get enough altitude while trying to clear the middle.

Prema Rawat continued the attack with disciplined leg spin. She initially put away a fierce return chance from Fatima Sana, but made amends almost immediately when she bowled Sadaf Shamas for three.

Deepti Sharma then added to Pakistan’s misery by catching skipper Fatima Sana lbw for a duck. Pakistan suddenly went from looking comfortable to struggling to reach a respectable total.

Their batsmen struggled to rotate the strike while the Indian spinners kept changing their pace and trajectory. The pressure meant that Pakistan could neither build partnerships nor find the boundaries needed to break free.

There was even a bizarre moment when Eyman Fatima ran out a five after Deepti was first bowled for an hour. The Indian all-rounder recovered quickly enough to break the stumps and complete another moment of pressure on Pakistan.

Rawat then removed Nashra Sandhu and Umm-e-Hani to finish with three wickets while Charani also finished with three. Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma completed the final dismissal as Tuba Hassan got nine.

SHAFALI MAKES HISTORY

India’s chase of 56 was expected to be a formality, but Pakistan’s Fatima Sana gave her team something to celebrate by striking early.

However, Shafali started exactly as one would expect. Sadia Iqbal blasted over long off for a blistering six off the first ball before taking a single to reach 3000 women’s T20Is.

At 22 years and 220 days, Shafali became the youngest player to reach the milestone and 16 overall. She was also only the third Indian, after Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet, to enter the 3000-run club.

However, her stay was short. Fatima Sana caught it and played 12, with the ball coming to a slight stop after being pitched and evoking a leading edge straight back to the bowler.

Pakistan struck again almost immediately. Pratika Rawal took a delivery from Fatima all the way to Muneeb for four. After the setback against Hong Kong, it was another disappointment for Rawal.

Fatima now pulled both Shafali and Rawal in two covers to give Pakistan a brief glimpse of an unlikely opening.

Mandhana tried to relieve the pressure and lifted Sadia Iqbal over the infield for a boundary. But Fatima responded again and produced a delivery that trapped the Indian opener lbw for nine.

India were 29/3, but with only 27 more runs needed, Pakistan had very little room for error.

HARMANPREET, DEEPTI Take INDIA HOME

Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma made sure there would be no more drama. Rather than take any unnecessary risks, the pair turned the tide and calmly negotiated Pakistan’s attempts to create another opening.

Pakistan tried everything they could, including some inventive fielding, but the target was just too small. India had already qualified for the semi-finals and didn’t need to run at any great pace.

Harmanpreet finally decided it was time to end the competition in style. First she found a boundary before striding to put the next delivery over the ropes to complete the seven-wicket victory.

India reached 57/3 in just 8.4 overs with Harmanpreet not out on 18 and Deepti out on 12.

The win cemented India’s status as one of the tournament favourites. For Pakistan, the defeat leaves little room for error. They now face Hong Kong in what has become a must-win game if they are to progress.

India, meanwhile, will have plenty to celebrate after another great result, even if their fielding and best batting leave some areas to clean up ahead of the semi-finals.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

05 Sep 2026 22:31 IST