Women’s T20 World Cup: India vs Pakistan – as it happened

There was a lot of hype surrounding this match, and it did not fail to deliver.

In the end, India’s batting depth proved the difference as they claim an opening victory to their World T20 campaign.

Pakistan will certainly feel hard done, having put in an exemplary performance with the bat, but in the end they just couldn’t pick up the wickets as needed to keep India’s innings under control.

India will now play West Indies next on February 15, while Pakistan face off against Ireland in a must-win game on the same day.

It has been a pleasure having you join us today, and do stay tuned as we continue to cover the tournament over the coming weeks.

What a run chase! 🔥

The second-highest successful run-chase in Women’s #T20WorldCup history 💥#INDvPAK | #TurnItUp pic.twitter.com/tjI5BrI0Po

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 12, 2023

India captain Kaur shared her feelings on the match.

“At the end of the day, we wanted to win this game. It was very sensible batting from both of them [Ghosh and Rodrigues]. All the players are keen to do well and it is a good sign for us [to win]. Every match is important for us, no matter who we play against.”

Congratulations Miss Kaur and Team India, against Pakistan is always special.

— priyesh sharma (@priyesh1202) February 12, 2023

A visibly disappointed Pakistani captain sums up her views on the match.

“We were in the game all the time. They played really well. We did [make] some mistakes in the bowling. We will try to be better in the next game. As a batting unit, we played really well.”

STAT ALERT: Bismah Maroof (2628) in the ongoing game overtook England’s, Charlotte Edwards (2605) on the all-time leading run scorers chart in Women’s T20 Internationals.

Bismah now sits on the 8th spot on all-time leading WT20I run scorers. pic.twitter.com/wwZGj8fKQK

— Shafqat Shabbir (@Chefkat23) February 12, 2023

A rather gleeful Rodrigues had this to say after her match-winning innings.

“I don’t know what to say. I knew we had to build partnerships and take it deep. We started off a little slow, but we knew we could chase any target. This innings means a lot as I haven’t scored [a fifty] in a long time,” she said.

“We were just taking it over by over. If we were there till the end, then we knew we could do it. It was a pretty good wicket, but definitely on the slower side [though]. We are happy we won, but the tournament has just begun.”

What a picture – Jemimah Rodrigues with the winning runs! pic.twitter.com/kaiaT7tDvJ

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 12, 2023

Fatima is brought back on for the penultimate over as Pakistan desperately need wickets.

Rodrigues toys with the bowler as she shuffles across to glance one down the fine leg region for four.

She then plays an uppish cut through a vacant third region before sealing the match with a cover drive for four to record a famous victory for India.

This is India’s highest successful run chase in this format, and provides a good omen for the rest of their campaign.

In the process, Rodrigues records a valiant fifty as well.

Aiman is brought on to try and restrict the runs as we head into the business end of the innings.

Ghosh, who had a successful U-19 tour in South Africa last month, builds on that good work by slamming three consecutive boundaries to somewhat level the equation.

With that over, India need just 14 off 12 to secure victory.

A hat-trick of fours from Richa Ghosh in the 18th over! 🔥

Follow LIVE 📝: https://t.co/4GcvPzneQW#INDvPAK | #T20WorldCup | #TurnItUp pic.twitter.com/VFJP7VRD9S

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 12, 2023

Dar is brought on to finish her spell by Bismah.

Ghosh manages to successfully late cut through an empty deep third region to pick up four runs.

Rodrigues returns the favour by slogging a loose delivery through long on.

Two fielders converge on the ball, but a communication mix-up results in the ball rushing past the boundary rope.

India require 28 off 18.

Ohh Richa Ghosh! You are making my heart beat go high in the air 😂#INDvsPAK #T20WorldCup2023

— Aniket Bagul (@aniketbagul79) February 12, 2023

Rodrigues looks to shift gears now as she moves across to paddle Fatima through the vacant fine leg region for four.

The 15th over ends with India picking up eight useful runs.

Sadia comes back on to bowl her final over and Ghosh takes the opportunity soon after to slog sweep her behind square for a boundary.

There is some interest from Pakistan when Sadia raps the pads of Ghosh off the final ball, but when they review it, there is confirmation that the ball hit the glove before hitting the pad.

India require 41 off 24. 

Jemimah Rodrigues playing a big knock here. Showing her class. C’mon @BCCIWomen

— Venkatesh Pandey (@VenkateshPande2) February 12, 2023

Wicket!

Huge blow for India as the captain departs after being caught by her counterpart in the slip region.

Kaur was looking to deposit Nashra, who is into her final over, through the midwicket region, but instead balloons a thick edge towards Bismah.

This brings Richa Ghosh to the crease, with India still requiring 57 off 39.

Big Wicket for Pakistan. Captain HarmanPreet Kaur is gone. Three wickets Down. India Needs 57 of 39. #INDvsPAK pic.twitter.com/gpMOdPwaTs

— Shaharyar Ejaz 🏏 (@SharyOfficial) February 12, 2023

Fatima bowls the 11th over and is soon dispatched for four through midwicket by the Indian captain.

Kaur then ends the over with a sweep through fine leg to register another boundary, giving India 11 from the over.

Nashra bowls her third over and succeeds in limiting India to seven runs.

India require 65 off 48.

Nashra once again in the thick of things as she draws out new batswoman Harmanpreet Kaur with a lovely, flighted delivery that just evades the bat.

However, upon second viewing, it looks like the captain just got her foot behind the line.

It would have been a huge blow for India if she had perished at this stage.

The 10th over ends with just two runs scored.

Wicket!

Pakistan pick up a huge scalp as Shafali, looking to deposit Nashra down the ground, does not get enough distance on it.

The boundary rider hovering at long on is able to get under it just before the rope as the Pakistani team celebrate.

The umpire decides now is as good a time to have a drinks break.

Nashra Sandhu replaces Sadia Iqbal and bowls a tidy line as India are held to just three runs.

Aiman continues from her end for the ninth over but gives up 10 runs through a combination of singles and a glided four through third by Rodrigues.

Despite the earlier wicket, India manage a very useful 10 runs from the Sadia over.

Dar continues from her end, and thanks to some alert running, India are able to secure another six runs to their total.

At the current rate, and with wickets in hand, India look well set to chase down Pakistan’s score.

India lose Yastika Bhatia, but are off to a good start in the Powerplay 👊

Follow LIVE 📝: https://t.co/wADFUnaV9L#INDvPAK | #T20WorldCup | #TurnItUp pic.twitter.com/nKovI1hyqg

— ICC (@ICC) February 12, 2023

Fatima is brought back on and strikes the first blow for Pakistan as Yastika holes out to extra cover.

India were looking to shift gears as Shafali picked up a boundary through extra cover and mid-off early in the over, but that wicket will give the women in green hope.

Jemimah Rodrigues is the new batswoman.

Sadia ends up allowing six runs from the fourth over.

Nida Dar is thrown the ball for the fifth and looks to keep the scoring under control.

She allows just one run off her first four deliveries before Shafali whips her through midwicket for a much-needed boundary.

Sadia continues from her end and manages to square up Shafali.

The umpire immediately raises the finger, but India decide to review it.

Ball tracking does confirm Shafali’s intuition as the ball looked to be missing the leg stump, so the decision is overturned.

Bismah mimics Kaur’s plan from the first innings by introducing a left-arm spinner into the mix as she throws the ball to Sadia Iqbal.

Iqbal does well to restrict India to just three runs from her over.

Bismah decides to change it up once more as she replaces Fatima with Aiman Anwer.

Aiman looks to reward her captain’s faith but ends up bowling one down the leg side off the final ball, which is helped along to the boundary by Yastika.

The third over results in a useful 10 runs for the women in blue.

Yastika is able to pull behind square off the second ball to get India on the board with a boundary.

Fatima does well to recover after as India are kept to eight runs.

Looks like Pakistan’s women team is going to revenge men’s T20 World Cup vs India.#INDvPAK #CricketTwitter

— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) February 12, 2023

The Indian openers, Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhati, are ready to commence battle.

It will be Fatima Sana to open the bowling for Pakistan.

India will need to get off to a flyer.

Two happy fans. Who will be smiling at the end?@OPPO Shot of the Day.#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/AlsUdQTBi7

— ICC (@ICC) February 12, 2023