India defeated Pakistan by 17 runs in the finals of the Asian Cricket Council Women’s T20 Asia Cup played at Bangkok just finished few minutes ago. The Indian team batted first and with the help of Mithali Raj 73 not out and Jhulan Goswami cameo knock of 17 helped India to score 121. The Indian bowlers did a brilliant job to restrict the Pakistan batsmen and win the Asia Cup for the sixth time.
Women’s T20 Asia Cup: India beat Pakistan by 17 runs to clinch title
India won the toss and elected to bat on good batting pitch. In the first over, Pakistan’s Asmavia Iqbal did not start the innings on great note conceding 10 runs. Smirti Mandana struggled to time the ball and was dismissed in the 5th over. Mithali Raj and Smirti Mandana put on 24 for the first wicket. In the first six overs India scored 30 runs. Mithali Raj looked comfortable against the Pakistan spinners. The other Indian batsmen struggled to time the ball. S Meghana, Veda Krishnamurthy, Harmanpreet Kaur all well in single digits score. Mithali Raj completed her half century in the 13 over. She scored fifty off 43 balls.
India was struggling at 89 for 4 in 16.2 overs. Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj put on 32 quick fire runs. Mithali Raj remained not on 73 while Jhulan Goswami scored 17 off 10 balls. Goswami was dismissed off the second last ball of the innings. In 20 overs India scored 121 for 5. The pick of the bowlers for Pakistan was Anam Amin who picked 2 wickets giving away 24 runs. Sadia Yousuf and Sana Mir picked 1 wicket each.
Chasing 122 to win, Pakistan openers Ayesha Zafar and Javeria Khan gave the team a quick fire start to the team. In the first 3 overs, these two openers hit 4 boundaries which put pressure on Indian bowlers. Jhulan Goswami picked the wicket of Ayesha Zafar in the 5th over. Both Pakistan openers put on 24 in 4.2 overs. In the next over Asmavia Iqbal was bowled by Shikha Pandey to put back pressure on Pakistan team. At the end of first six overs Pakistan scored 32 for 2.
Javeria Khan was looking threatening before Ekta Bisht dismissed her for 22. The Indian spinners put a lid on Pakistan not allowing the Pakistan batsmen to score runs easily. Bismah Maroof was the top scorer with 25 runs. Pakistan was able to score only 104 for 6 in 20 overs. The pick of the bowlers for India was Ekta Bisht taking 2 for 22 in 4 overs. Harmanpreet Kaur, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Bose, AA Patil picked 1 wicket each.
This is the sixth time that India has won the Asia Cup for women’s, in as many editions.
For her brilliant performances Mithali Raj was named the player of the match and also player of the series.
Tags: Asian Cricket Council, Cricket, India, Mithali Raj, Pakistan, T20, T20 Asia Cup, T20 Cricket, Women's T20 Asia Cup
