India Kickstarts Campaign with a Commanding Win Over Pakistan at Edgbaston
In a thrilling opener of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, India defeated Pakistan by 64 runs at Edgbaston, Birmingham. India batted first and posted a competitive 170/6 in 20 overs. Their bowlers then dismantled Pakistan’s batting lineup, restricting them to 106 all out in 17 overs.
This victory not only marks a strong start to India’s campaign but also extends their dominance in India vs Pakistan encounters in women’s cricket.
Match Summary & Key Highlights
India Innings (170/6 in 20 overs)
- Smriti Mandhana — 68 runs off 44 balls (classy fifty)
- Harmanpreet Kaur (c) — 36 runs
- Richa Ghosh — 34 runs off 17 balls (explosive finish)
India faced a shaky powerplay (18/2) but recovered strongly through Mandhana’s elegant batting and solid middle-order partnerships. The last 10 overs yielded 105 runs, setting a challenging total.
Pakistan Innings (106 all out in 17 overs)
- Muneeba — 41 runs (top scorer)
- Deepti Sharma — 5/10 in 4 overs (Player of the Match)
- Shree Charani — 3 wickets
Pakistan started decently but collapsed dramatically. Deepti Sharma’s spin wizardry, combined with sharp Indian fielding, triggered a dramatic slide as the last seven wickets fell for just 31 runs.
Standout Performances
- Smriti Mandhana’s Masterclass: The opener anchored the innings with a fluent half-century, providing the perfect platform.
- Deepti Sharma’s Five-Wicket Haul: Career-best figures of 5/10. She became the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20Is (161 wickets) and the first spinner to reach 350 wickets in women’s internationals. Her spell completely turned the game.
- Explosive Richa Ghosh: Her quickfire 34 off 17 balls boosted the total significantly.
- Outstanding Fielding: India held onto crucial catches, with standout efforts like Shreyanka Patil’s diving catch.
Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front with composed captaincy, ensuring balance across batting, bowling, and fielding departments.
Why This Match Will Be Remembered
- A convincing 64-run victory that boosts India’s Net Run Rate (NRR) early in the tournament.
- Deepti Sharma’s historic all-round brilliance.
- Continued supremacy: India now leads Pakistan significantly in Women’s T20 World Cup head-to-head records.
India’s Strength on Display
With this win, India has sent a strong message as one of the title favorites. The combination of explosive batters like Mandhana and Ghosh, world-class spinners like Deepti, and improved fielding makes them a formidable unit.
Jai Hind! 🇮🇳🔥
Next Matches: Stay tuned as India continues its campaign in the group stage. Follow all the action, previews, and updates right here on DD Sports TV.
Source: ICC Official Highlights YouTube
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