Women’s Asia Cup: Another walk in the park for India vs Pakistan

Pakistan women’s team slumped to their lowest ever T20I total as India cruised to a seven-wicket win in their 2026 Women’s Asia Cup Group A encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday night.Opting to bat first, Pakistan got off to a smart start and reached 27 for no loss in the fifth over through openers Muneeb Ali (13, 15b, 1×4) and Shawaal Zulfiqar (14, 14b, 3×4), both of whom benefited from wasted chances.However, Indian spinners took control soon after and triggered a dramatic collapse. Pakistan lost six wickets for just eight runs in 28 balls and slumped to 35 for six in the 10th over. Playing their 200th women’s T20I, Pakistan were bowled out for 55 in 18.1 overs, falling short of their previous lowest T20I total (56) against New Zealand in Dubai in 2024. Their previous lowest total in the Asia Cup was 63.Indian spinners made captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s milestone memorable as he used skill, control and help from the slow pitch to stifle Pakistan. Left-arm spinner Shree Charani led the charge with three for seven in four overs, while leg-spinner Prema Rawat took three for nine. Experienced off-spinner Deepti Sharma finished with two for five in 3.1 overs.Charani dismissed Shawaal, who missed the mark and was trapped lbw, Gul Feroza, who burst from the pitch to offer a lead into the short third, and Ayesha Zafar, caught by Harmanpreet at mid-off. Charani is now India’s highest wicket-taker in women’s T20Is in 2026 with 32 wickets in 18 innings.Part-timer Shafali Verma brought the first breakthrough and bowled Muneeba as the opener made room to break a delivery that was too straight.India wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh also had a good outing, catching Nashra Sandhu off Rawat and showing a sharp edge to remove No. 10 Tuba Hassan for nine.India were guilty of three wasted chances. Pratika Rawal bowled Muneeba for a six off Kranti Gouda in the third over, then dropped her again for nine at long off by Shafali in the fifth over. Rawal also dropped Pakistan captain Fatima Sana off her own bowling in the ninth over. However, Pakistan was unable to make India pay.Fatima Sana, who defended 55, gave Pakistan her lone bright spell with a strong burst in the bowling seams, taking three for 17 in three overs. She dismissed Shafali (12), Smriti Mandhana (9) and Pratika Rawal (4) to reduce India to 29 for three in four overs.Harmanpreet, playing her record 150th T20I as captain, settled the chase with Deepti. Harmanpreet finished unbeaten on 18 balls from 18 balls, with one four and one six, while Deepti remained unbeaten on 12 balls from 14. Harmanpreet sealed the win by going over long-on to Nashra Sandhu in the ninth over as India completed the chase on 68 balls.India finished top of the Group A table with three wins from three matches, while Pakistan must beat Hong Kong on Monday to qualify for the semi-finals.