GUYANA, NOV 12,
Veteran Mithali Raj’s aggressive half-century guided India to an easy seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the ICC Women’s World T20.
Mithali anchored the run chase with a 47-ball 56, which included seven fours, in the Group B match which was marred by unprecedented docking of 10 penalty runs for Pakistan on account of their batswomen running on the danger area of the pitch.
India chased down the target with six balls to spare, reaching 137 for three in 19 overs.
India made a strong start with openers Raj and Smriti Mandhana (26) finding the boundaries at regular intervals in their 73-run stand from 9.3 overs.
After Mandhana fell, 18-year-old Jemimah Rodrigues (16), who scored a half century in the previous game, seemed to continue from where she left off but played a shot too many and perished in the process.
Earlier, the Indian bowlers pinned Pakistan down for most part of its innings but some sloppy fielding, which saw at least three easy catches being dropped, allowed the latter to make a recovery thanks to Bismah Maroof (53) and Nida Dar (52).
