India flog Pakistan in Women’s Asia Cup joust

India made an absolute mockery of Pakistan in their Women’s Asia Cup clash in Dubai on Saturday, skittling them out for just 55 before hunting down the target in 8.4 overs. Pakistan’s lowest-ever all-out total in Women’s T20Is left India needing only 56, and although Fatima Sana raised hopes by dismantling India’s top-order, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma ensured there was no late hiccup. India won by seven wickets to finish top of Group A with three wins from three.

In a slightly precarious situation, the pair avoided taking unnecessary risks, rotating the strike and waiting for ideal scoring opportunities. Deepti eventually broke the sequence of dots with a slog-swept four off Nashra Sandhu in the seventh over before Harmanpreet, in her 150th T20I as captain, brought the game to a fitting close with a six off Sandhu straight down the ground.

Notably, during the contest, Shefali Verma scripted history. At 22 years and 220 days, she became the youngest player to reach the landmark of 3000 runs in Women’s T20Is.

Brief Scores: Pakistan 55 in 18.1 overs (Shawaal Zulfiqar 14; Shree Charani 3-7, Prema Rawat 3-9) lost to India 57/3 in 8.4 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 18*, Deepti Sharma 12*; Fatima Sana 3-17) by 7 wickets.