India thrash Pakistan in seven-wicket win in Women’s T20 Asia Cup

DUBAI: DUBAI: India beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the ninth T20 match of the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 group stage on Saturday after chasing down a target of 56 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan were bowled out for 55 in 18.1 overs after losing their last nine wickets for just 28 runs, leaving India with a modest target.

India made a steady start to the chase as Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana opened the innings. Verma scored 12 before Fatima Sana dismissed her, while Mandhana fell for nine to the same bowler.

Fatima struck again soon after, removing Pratika Rawal for four to briefly put pressure on India.

However, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma ensured India suffered no further setbacks. Kaur remained unbeaten on 18, while Sharma finished on 12 not out as India reached 56 in 8.4 overs.

Earlier, Pakistan opted to bat first but struggled to build momentum after making a promising start.

Openers Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar put together 27 runs before India began to make regular breakthroughs.

Shafali Verma dismissed Muneeba for 13 off 15 balls after the Pakistan opener had hit her for a four.

Pakistan then lost two wickets in the following over, with Shree Charani dismissing Gull Feroza for a duck and Zulfiqar for 14 off 14 deliveries. Zulfiqar remained Pakistan’s top-scorer, hitting three fours.

Prema Rawat and Charani led India’s bowling attack with three wickets each, while Deepti Sharma claimed two and Verma took one.

Pakistan were eventually bowled out for their lowest-ever total in women’s T20Is, despite Tuba Hassan’s resilience in the lower order.

The defeat came after Pakistan’s batting collapse left them with only 55 runs to defend in the much-anticipated clash against their archrivals.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Muneeba Ali (wk), Shawaal Zulfiqar, Gull Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas, Fatima Sana (c), Eyman Fatima, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal and Umm-e-Hani

India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud and Nandani Sharma