Mandhana was at her fluent best throughout the innings.
India made a commanding start to their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a comprehensive 64-run victory over Pakistan at Edgbaston.
Smriti Mandhana starred with the bat before Sree Charani and Deepti Sharma dismantled Pakistan’s batting line-up to seal an emphatic win.
Chasing 171, Pakistan began steadily through Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza. The pair laid a solid foundation before India struck crucial blows to remove both openers before they could turn their starts into significant scores.
Once the breakthrough arrived, Pakistan’s innings unravelled rapidly. The side slumped from 53 for 2 to 79 for 6 as India’s bowlers took complete control of the contest.
Deepti was the chief destroyer, claiming five wickets, while Charani picked up three.
Pakistan’s lower order offered little resistance and was unable to recover from the collapse as India secured a dominant victory.
Earlier, Mandhana produced a stylish innings of 68 from 44 balls to guide India to 170 for 6. Her knock was complemented by a late cameo from Richa Ghosh, whose 34 from 17 deliveries provided the finishing touches to the innings.
Ghosh accelerated sharply in the closing overs, with left-arm seamer Tasmia Rubab conceding 23 runs in the penultimate over.
The expensive over proved costly as India pushed their total beyond Pakistan’s reach.
Mandhana was at her fluent best throughout the innings.
She repeatedly found the boundary with elegant strokeplay and showcased her range with a classy six off Rubab. Her use of the feet against off-spinner Rameen Shamim was particularly impressive as she struck inside-out boundaries and brought up her half-century from just 34 balls.
The left-hander’s innings featured nine fours and two sixes before Shamim eventually dismissed her. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana judged a sliding catch perfectly to end Mandhana’s impressive stay at the crease.
Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur steadied India after an early wobble. Shafali Verma departed for six and Jemimah Rodrigues managed just one as India slipped to 18 for 2.
The experienced pair responded with a partnership of 91 runs for the third wicket.
Although India reached the end of the Powerplay at a cautious 30 for 2, Mandhana and Kaur gradually increased the scoring rate without taking unnecessary risks.
Over the next seven overs, India added 70 runs and benefited from two missed opportunities in the field.
Mandhana was first dropped off Rubab’s bowling when a mistimed lofted shot was spilled by the fielder at mid-off while running backwards.
She was then handed another reprieve when a powerful hit towards the wide long-on boundary slipped through the hands of a fielder and crossed the rope for six.
The second missed chance came at the expense of left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal, who nevertheless finished with figures of 2 for 41 and was among Pakistan’s standout performers alongside captain Sana, who returned 2 for 33.
While Mandhana relied on timing and footwork, Kaur’s innings of 36 from 35 balls was built on power and control.
The India captain used both the conventional sweep and slog sweep effectively as she helped rebuild the innings.
India suffered a brief stumble after Mandhana’s dismissal.
Bharti Fulmali was stumped for a duck while attempting an ambitious shot, and Kaur fell soon afterwards when her flick off Sana was caught by Natalia Pervaiz at the square-leg boundary.
However, Ghosh’s late assault ensured India finished strongly before their bowlers completed a dominant all-round performance against their rivals.
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