PROVIDENCE, Guyana – Mithali Raj scored her 15th T20I half-century to help guide India to a seven-wicket victory over Pakistan for their second successive win in the ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup here at Providence Stadium yesterday.
Raj scored an impressive 56 from 47 balls to help India surpass Pakistan’s total of 133 for seven in their 20 overs, as they finished on 137 for three with six balls remaining.
Pakistan also contributed to their loss, dropping five catches in a dismal fielding display, while they were also penalised 10 runs for Bismah Maroof and Nida Dar continually treading on the danger areas of the pitch despite both being warned by the umpires.
But it was Raj and Smriti Mandhana’s opening stand of 73 which completely swung the game in India’s favour as they chased a below par total.
Mandhana was the first to go for 26, but Raj continued to lead the assault striking seven boundaries during her stroked filled innings.By the time Raj was dismissed India was already well on their way to victory with only eight runs needed from 14 balls.
The talking point of Pakistan’s innings would have been the 10 penalty runs which umpire Sue Redfern imposed on them.
Both Maroof and Dar, who scored half-centuries and rescued their side from peril during a 93-run fourth-wicket partnership, were guilty of constantly running down the centre of the pitch.
Maroof who made 53 and Dar who blasted an aggressive 52 from just 35 balls came together with Pakistan in dire trouble at 30 for three.
However, once they were dismissed within six runs of each other, the middle and lower order struggled to score runs in the dying overs, with India’s bowlers striking at crucial moments.
Healy's 21-ball half-century blows Ireland away
Chances are it may have taken Australia longer to load their kits from the baggage carousel to the team bus than it took to see off Ireland's small target in Providence, Guyana. The enforcer was Alyssa Healy, who walloped a 21-ball half-century - the fastest in the tournament's history - to raze down 94 in just 9.1 overs.
The beauty lay in Healy's brutality. Full tosses and long hops were gleefully accepted. But amid the muscle, there was also grace and elegance which she displayed in equal measure, while lofting the ball inside-out over extra cover. In the end, Ireland's only takeaway was the experience of playing Australia only for the second time in four years.
The result was another reminder of why teams like Ireland need more exposure and not just one qualifying tournament amid the jostle with Full Members for game time.
Ireland's best chance of competing was to bat first and put runs up against the four-time champions. Laura Delany called correctly and they finished the Powerplay 27 without loss. Then the big-match nerves failed Ireland as they lost 5 for 16, resulting in a breakdown they didn't recover from.
Ireland didn't run well, and weren't helped by poor umpiring calls either - like the controversial call by Langton Rusere to dock them five runs because Delany seemingly ran onto the 'danger zone.' All this coupled with some tight, relentless Australian lines resulted in no leeway. They limped to 93 for 6 on the back of Kim Garth's 24 at No. 7. It left open the prospect of a bruising chase.
SCORES
PAKISTAN 133 for seven off 50 overs (Bismah Maroof 53, Nida Dar 52; Poonam Yadav 2-22, Dayalan Hemalatha 2-34).
INDIA 137 for three off 19 overs (Mithali Raj 56, Smriti Mandhana 26). India won by seven wickets
AUSTRALIA 96 for one (Healy 56*)
IRELAND 93 for six (Garth 24, Perry 2-12). Australia won by nine wickets