India vs Pakistan Highlights: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma star as India crush Pakistan by 7 wickets in their Women's Asia Cup opening clash

In their Women's Asia Cup 2024 opener, Indian openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana aggressively chased a target of 109 runs against Pakistan at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. Verma scored 40 and Mandhana 45, laying a solid foundation with consistent boundaries.

India Women beat Pakistan by seven wickets. India showcased their dominance with a commanding win, easily chasing the target of 109. The openers made quick work of the runs, making a 10-wicket victory seem likely, though Syeda Aroob Shah and Nashra Sandhu managed to take a couple of wickets each. The batting-friendly wicket allowed Shafali and Smriti to score freely with plenty of boundaries. Rodrigues sealed the comprehensive win with a late dab past short third man.

INDW 109/3 in 14.1 Overs (with 35 balls to spare)

Kaur and Rodrigues add 4 runs to the total. Kaur plays a couple of dot balls, then gets 2 runs to level the scores, followed by a single. Rodrigues adds 1 run with a tuck to deep mid-wicket.

INDW 108/3 in 14 Overs in chase of 109

Nashra Sandhu dismisses Hemalatha, who is caught by Tuba Hassan at cover-point after attempting to loft the ball over the off-side. Hemalatha departs for 14 off 11 balls, having sliced a nicely tossed-up delivery.

INDW 104/3 in 13 Overs in chase of 109

India lose Shafali Verma. Syeda Aroob Shah dismisses Shafali Verma, who is bowled after coming down the track and failing to connect. The ball, flat and pushed through, sneaks past her defence to hit the top of the middle stump. Shafali departs for 40 off 29 balls. Harmanpreet Kaur comes to the crease.

INDW 101/2 in 12 Overs in chase of 109

Hemalatha hits three consecutive fours off Nashra Sandhu: one to sweeper cover, one through backward point, and another through deep backward square leg, where the fielder misjudges the spin.

INDW 98/1 in 11 Overs in chase of 109

Only 2 runs are scored. Syeda Aroob Shah dismisses Mandhana, who is caught by Aliya Riaz at mid-wicket for 45. Hemalatha plays a few deliveries cautiously, scoring a single and surviving a couple of close calls. The over also includes a drink break with Pakistan in a huddle.

INDW 86/1 in 10 Overs in chase of 109

Syeda Aroob Shah dismisses Mandhana, who is caught by Aliya Riaz at mid-wicket after failing to clear the fielder. Mandhana departs for 45 off 31 balls, providing Pakistan with a much-needed breakthrough. Dayalan Hemalatha is the new batter

INDW 85/1 in 9.3 Overs in chase of 109

Nashra Sandhu allows 6 runs as Shafali Verma and Mandhana each score a single with shots to mid-wicket, third man, and sweeper cover. Shafali Verma also misjudges a lofted shot but manages a single to deep mid-wicket, and Mandhana adds another single with a cut to sweeper cover.

INDW 84/0 in 9 Overs in chase of 109

Mandhana hits four boundaries off Tuba Hassan. She slog-sweeps a full legbreak to deep mid-wicket, lofts a delivery over extra-cover, and paddles two balls to fine leg. The over also includes a wide and a dot ball where Mandhana gets too close to the pitch and digs out the delivery.

INDW 79/0 in 8 Overs in chase of 109

Mandhana hits two boundaries off Tuba Hassan: one with a slog sweep to deep mid-wicket and another to extra cover. Tuba also bowls a delivery that Mandhana digs out after coming down the track.

INDW 66/0 in 7.3 Oversi n chase of 109

Nashra Sandhu restricts runs to just 1. Mandhana scores a single to sweeper cover, while the remaining deliveries are dot balls, including a mistimed cut and well-placed shots to mid-wicket, point, and extra-cover.

INDW 58/0 in 7 Overs in chase of 109

With 15 runs scored in the sixth over, Mandhana hits two boundaries, one through extra-cover and another over square leg. Shafali Verma adds a six to deep square leg, and also plays a dot ball. Mandhana then adds a single to long-on.

INDW 57/0 in 6 Overs in chase of 109

Fatima Sana bowls a full delivery outside off, and Shafali Verma executes a textbook drive, placing the ball perfectly between cover and mid-off for the shot of the game so far.

INDW 42/0 in 5 Overs in chase of 109

Fatima Sana delivers a full ball outside off, and Shafali Verma lifts it over cover-point for a four, taking advantage of the up-offside field.

INDW 38/0 in 4.3 Overs in chase of 109

Nida Dar bowls a good length delivery outside off, and Mandhana transfers her weight back to punch it for a four, wide of cover-point, with the off-side field in place.

INDW 33/0 in 4 Overs in chase of 109

INDW 23/0 (3) in chase of 108

Sadia Iqbal delivers a good length ball outside off, and Shafali Verma pulls it powerfully for a four between long-on and deep mid-wicket.

INDW 18/0 in 2.4 Overs in chase of 109

In the over, 6 runs are scored: Mandhana hits a four to mid-wicket and adds a single to deep backward square leg, while Shafali Verma also scores a single to deep backward square leg. Shafali Verma and Mandhana each play the other deliveries for no runs.

INDW 12/0 in 2 Overs in chase of 109

India 10/0 after 1.2 Overs in chase of 109

Shafali Verma hits a four to deep backward square leg, while also collecting a single to deep mid-wicket. Mandhana adds a single to sweeper cover, and the remaining deliveries are played for no runs to backward point and cover.

INDW 4/0 in 0.3 Overs

Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma open the chase for Team India. Sadia Iqbal opens it for Pakistan.

Shreyanka Patil dismisses Sadia Iqbal, who is bowled for a duck after Patil's arm ball shatters the leg stump, with Pakistan's batters failing to pose a big total.

Pakistan's batting effort was disappointing after choosing to bat on a good track. They were 57/3 at the end of 11 overs but faltered thereafter.

PAKW 108 all out in 19.2 Overs

Radha Yadav bowls to Fatima Sana, who hits another six, adding valuable runs for struggling Pakistan.

PAKW 108/9 in 19 Overs

PAKW 102/9 in 18.5 Overs

Pakistan are on the brink of getting all out! Sadia Iqbal is the new batter.

PAKW 94/9 in 17.5 Overs

Syeda Aroob Shah is run out by Radha Yadav. Despite dropping a tough catch earlier, Radha makes up for it with a brilliant direct hit, dismissing Syeda Aroob Shah for 2 off 3 balls.

PAKW 94/8 in 17.4 Overs

Deepti Sharma dismisses Tuba Hassan, who is caught by Radha Yadav off a short delivery outside off. Tuba Hassan departs for 22 off 19 balls, and Radha Yadav redeems herself with a solid catch.

PAKW 92/7 in 17.1 Overs

Fatima Sana adds two runs through extra cover and long-off, while also cutting a flat delivery to cover and missing a slider.

PAKW 90/6 in 17 Overs

Tuba Hassan anchors Pakistan's innings with power-hitting.

PAKW 86/6 in 15.4 Overs

Vastrakar delivers to Tuba Hassan, who hits a four, capitalizing on a poor fielding effort from Radha.

PAKW 81/6 in 15 Overs

Vastrakar bowls a seam-up full delivery outside off to Fatima Sana, who powerfully drives it straight, beating the diving fielder at mid-off to her left for a four.

PAKW 74/6 in 14.3 Overs

Having already bagged two wickets to her name, Pooja Vastrakar is back for the last over of her spell.

PAKW 70/6 in 14.2 Overs

Deepti Sharma delivers to Tuba Hassan, who lofts the ball down the ground for a four. The fielder at long-on, standing a few yards inside the ropes, missed what could have been a straightforward catch if she had been deeper.

PAKW 67/6 in 14 Overs

There is a huge mishap due to miscommunication. But the Pak batters are safe as Tuba Hassan is sent to the crease at the right moment.

Renuka Singh dismisses Iram Javed lbw for a duck on the very first ball she faces. Earlier in the over, Singh also gets Ameen caught by Radha Yadav for 25. Pakistan are now 6 down.

PAKW 61/6 in 13 Overs

PAKW 60/4 in 12 Overs

Pakistan are already 4 down. The Pakistan skipper's attempt at a big hit backfires as she runs down the track, but her lofted shot off the toe end of the bat is caught by the fielder at long-on. Nida Dar is dismissed for 8 off 11 balls, leaving her side in a bit of a pickle.

PAKW 59/4 in 11.4 Overs

PAKW 57/3 in 11.2 Overs

Vastrakar comes back to bowl her second spell, completes her over with only four runs. There is a mix-up in the last ball, but the Pak batsman is safe.

PAKW 57/3 in 11 Overs

Free Hit, but only one as Shreyanka Patil goes for a bouncer

PAKW 53/3 in 9.4 Overs

Much-needed boundary for Pakistan

PAKW 50/3 in 9.2 Overs