Clinical India defeat Pakistan to stay unbeaten in Asia Cup

Playing their 200th T20I, Pakistan simply couldn’t get going as India applied a spin-choke to bowl them out for their lowest-ever T20I score of 55.

Though skipper Fatima Sana (3/17) led Pakistan’s fightback with three early wickets, India chased down the 56-run target comfortably, continuing their winning run in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 and topping Group A.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc6cCwrkyzy/

Setting the tone right away during the chase, Shafali Verma launched the very first ball of the chase over the ropes, crossing the 3,000-run milestone in T20Is in the opening over.

A soft caught-and-bowled dismissal thereafter saw the back

A soft caught-and-bowled dismissal thereafter saw the back of Shafali, with Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana striking in her first over.

Fatima struck again in the same over when Pratika Rawal edged to wicketkeeper Muneeba Ali. In her next over, she removed record-breaker Smriti Mandhana, leaving India three down for 29.

Harmanpreet Kaur, playing her 150th T20I as captain, was joined by Deepti Sharma to ensure no further damage as India reached the target with seven wickets and 11.2 overs to spare.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc6JFz7SqYA/

Earlier, opting to bat first, Pakistan had luck

Earlier, opting to bat first, Pakistan had luck on their side early as Muneeba was dropped twice by Rawal before Shafali Verma broke the opener’s defence. 

A mini collapse ensued thereafter as Pakistan batters had no answer to India’s spin attack with Sree Charani (3/6) striking twice in her very first over with the wickets of Gull Feroza and Shawaal Zulfiqur. 

The left-arm spinner added a third wicket to her tally in the eighth over by removing Ayesha Zafar, who tried to play against the spin but chipped it straight to Harmanpreet.

Prema Rawat (3/9) and Deepti (2/5) then chipped

Prema Rawat (3/9) and Deepti (2/5) then chipped in with a wicket each in consecutive overs, as the leg-spinner disturbed Sadaf Shamas’s defence and Deepti trapped Pakistan skipper Fatima lbw.

Lowest totals for Pakistan in Women’s T20Is

Pakistan lost six wickets for just 12 runs, reaching 36 at the halfway mark. A run-out soon after ended Eyman Fatima’s stay, while Umm-e-Hani top-edged Prema Rawat to Nandani Sharma as India kept up the pressure.

Tuba Hassan struck a boundary to bring up the team’s fifty before Rawat struck again, with Nashra Sandhu edging one behind to Richa Ghosh. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 55 after Ghosh completed a stumping off Deepti to dismiss Tuba.

Having already qualified for the semi-finals, India remain undefeated in the competition, while Pakistan will look to bounce back when they face Hong Kong, China on Monday, September 7.

Picture courtesy: Asian Cricket Council

Source: www.icc-cricket.com