The 5th match of cricket at the Commonwealth Games saw crickets most awaited and watched game between India and Pakistan have nearly an hour delay due to rain interruptions. The rain cut down the game to 18 overs for each side which saw India restrict Pakistan to a low total that India confidently and comprehensively chased down to register a crucial win and also bag a couple of points.
1st Inning: Pakistan: 99/10 (18 Overs)
Pakistan having won the toss, opt to bat first. India started well as Meghna Singh dismissed Iram Javed on 0(3) in the 2nd over without a run being scored. The pair of Muneeba Ali and Bismah Maroof safely negotiated to the end of the powerplay overs with the score of 30-1. Pakistan improved on their previous mistakes and made sure to run the ones and twos that they topped with a big 14-run over which saw a key fifty-run partnership up between the two. Sneh Rana bowling her 2nd over got India a crucial breakthrough as Pakistan were starting to take control and dismissed two in the same over, first it was skipper Maroof on 17(19) and then the set and attacking Muneeba Ali on 32(30). Aliya Riaz dug in on one end and the other end saw Omaima Sohail being dismissed on 10 before a direct hit from Meghna had Riaz run out on a good 18(22). The very next ball saw Fatima Sana on 8(6) being dismissed by Shafali Verma. Radha Yadav bowled an excellent final over which saw Diana Baig handed a golden duck, then Tuba Hassan was run out on 1(2) by Harleen Deol and off the last ball, Kainat Imtiaz was dismissed on 2(3) to restrict Pakistan on a score of 99 in their 18 overs. For India, Sneh Rana and Radha Yadav with a couple each topped the wickets chart which had Shafali Verma, Meghna Singh and Renuka Singh with one each follow.
2nd Inning: India: 102/2 (11.4 overs)
India in reply as expected came out all guns blazing and it was Diana Baig’s opening over of 2 runs which was topped by 10, 13 and 16 off the next 3 overs which saw India in the fifth over getting to their 50-run wicketless opening stand. Bowling the final over of the powerplay, Tuba Hassan too was welcomed with boundaries but picked up Shafali Verma on 16(9) handing Pakistan a breakthrough. India finished their powerplay with a score of 61-1. Smriti Mandhana soon smashed a six to get to her 50* off 31. Sabbhineni Meghana too got going with a few boundaries but couldn’t close the game for India as she was dismissed on 14(16) by Omaima Sohail. India had a fitting end with Smriti Mandhana smashing a boundary. Jemimah Rodrigues on the other end didn’t have a lot to do, remained unbeaten on 2(3) as Smriti Mandhana finished on 63*(42) to hand India an 8-wicket win in the contest. For Pakistan, Omaima Sohail and Tuba Hassan with a wicket each got on the wickets chart.
Special Match-Winning knock by a Special Player!
Smriti Mandhana – an unbeaten 63 with a strike-rate of 150.#INDvPAK #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/3SeN405P0M
— Female Cricket #B2022 (@imfemalecricket) July 31, 2022
An expected result it really was with India smashing Pakistan for a comprehensive win. Pakistan’s poor run with the bat continues as their bowlers alone are now not in a position of defending low totals. With oppositions playing an aggressive brand of cricket Pakistan has got a big job in hand to adapt to modern-day cricket with each defeat surely giving them a hard time.
Smriti finishes off in style.
India win by 8 Wickets against Pakistan#INDvPAK #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/4bGkRzdZS1
— Female Cricket #B2022 (@imfemalecricket) July 31, 2022
