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India claimed their 13th win in 16 T20 encounters with old rivals Pakistan in the Women’s World Cup on Sunday as former champions West Indies defeated Scotland.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored a steely 29 to lead her team to a narrow six-wicket victory.
West Indies, the 2016 champions, moved past Scotland, also by six wickets with 50 balls remaining.
After restricting Pakistan to 105-8 in their 20 overs, India were 106 ahead of victory and at 61-1, India seemed content. But two wickets in two balls from Pakistan captain Fatima Sana opened the door before Kaur took her team to the brink of victory.
However, when India were two runs short, she slipped and appeared to strain her neck, leaving the field unbeaten on 29 off 24 balls.
Sajeevan Sajana scored the crucial runs off the next delivery as India closed on 108-4, winning with seven balls to spare.
“We were very disciplined and followed the plans,” said Smriti Mandhana from India. “We were very good in the field. A better start with the bat would have been good, but we will get this win.”
Nida Dar top-scored for Pakistan with 28 off 34 balls but there was little to celebrate after Sana won the toss and chose to bat on a wicket that produced an awkward bounce.
“We weren’t up to par in our batting. We were 10 to 15 runs short,” said Sana.
All the Indian bowlers did their part, with Arundhati Reddy being the most successful as she took down Omaima Sohail (3) and Aliya Riaz (4) in the middle order before bowling Dar clean in the last over to take 3-19 from her four overs completed.
This was a much-needed win for India in Group A after their opening match loss against New Zealand.
They remain fourth in the group with Pakistan just ahead of them in net run rate.
– ‘Firepower’ –
The West Indies bounced back from their first 10-wicket defeat against South Africa to easily beat Scotland.
The Scots battled through to reach 99-8 in their 20 overs before the West Indies chased down their target with 50 balls remaining to secure victory, an impressive increase in their net run rate and top spot in Group B
Qiana Joseph top-scored with 31 off 18 balls, hitting three fours and a six.
Deandra Dottin hit two sixes in her unbeaten 28 off 15 balls and shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 42 with player of the match Chinelle Henry.
Henry made a brisk 18 from 10 balls, including two fours and a six, having previously recorded figures of 1-10 from four overs of fast bowling.
“We handled the ball pretty well and limited the boundary balls,” West Indies captain Hayley Matthews said.
“We put ourselves in a safe position and then thought about the net run rate and then we did it.”
Skipper Kathryn Bryce (25) and Ailsa Lister (26) had opted to bat first and tried to steady the ship for Scotland with a 46-run partnership for the third wicket after both openers were out on just 13 Brett were back in the pavilion.
However, Bryce and Lister fell to 37-year-old leg-spinner Afy Fletcher, who also dismissed Priyanaz Chatterji for a first-ball duck as the Scots’ middle order collapsed.
“With the firepower they have, it was difficult,” Bryce admitted.
“We didn’t get off to a good start, we didn’t get any momentum in the middle.”
Matthews had opener Saskia Horley caught by Dottin at mid-wicket in the second over to reach 100 wickets in international T20 cricket.
Scotland have now lost their opening two games at the World Cup after being ousted by 16 runs by Bangladesh on Thursday.
DJ/GJ
