BIRMINGHAM: Deepti Sharma’s brilliant five-wicket haul and Smriti Mandhana’s fluent half-century led India to a 64-run win over Pakistan in the opening game of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Edgbaston on Sunday.
Chasing 171, Pakistan were bowled out for 106 in 17 overs as India’s disciplined bowling attack staged a strong comeback after a steady start by the opposition.
Pakistan got off to a good start with the openers scoring crucial runs. Muneeba Ali applied early pressure to the Indian attack from the front.
Deepti Sharma put an end to an opening stand of 38, dismissing Gul Berosa for 12 off nine balls, which included two fours.
Muneefa and Ayesha Jaffer then settled the innings and took Pakistan past 50, but Deepti again dismissed Ayesha for 12 off 8 balls as Pakistan were 53/2 in 6.3 overs.
Despite Muneefa’s protests, Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals. Sri Sarani increased the pressure by dismissing Saira Zabeen for two runs.
Muneebah was eventually run out after scoring 41 off 35 balls, including 5 fours, as Pakistan struggled to 75/4 in 10.5 overs.
Skipper Fatima Sana ducked out, Shafali Verma was dismissed, while Natalia Pervaiz contributed seven runs before the sixth wicket.
Sarani claimed his third wicket with the dismissal of Ramin Shamim and further reduced Pakistan after he scored just four runs from six balls.
Deepti Sharma then returned to clean up the tail, dismissing Alia Riaz and Tasmiya Rubab before Nashra Sandhu became the final wicket, ensuring India’s win.
Deepti finished with impressive figures of 5/10 in four overs, while Sarani took three wickets. Shafali Verma also picked up a wicket as India cruised to a comprehensive win.
Batting first, the Girls in Blue scored 170-6 in the allotted 20 overs thanks to a crucial partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur.
India got off to a mixed start as opener Shafali Verma opened the scoring with a six off the first ball, but then off-spinner Sadia Iqbal was dismissed in the same over.
After Smriti Mandhana was already piling on the runs at the other end, Jemima Rodriguez came to the crease, aiming to steady the innings and rebuild momentum towards the match total following an early dismissal.
However, there was another setback for the Blues when Rodriguez was dismissed cheaply by Tasmia Rupp in seven balls, leaving the team reeling at 18-2 in 3.2 overs.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur quickly found her rhythm after coming in and along with Smriti she formed a solid partnership that helped India cross the 50-run mark in the ninth over.
Mandhana looked in sublime touch with the bat before bringing up his 34th career T20I fifty, easing the pressure as the runs flowed freely.
Harmanpreet Kaur continued the attack as India’s run rate continued to rise, taking the side past the 100-run mark.
However, the 91-run stand was broken when off-spinner Ramin Shami dismissed Smriti Mandhana, who hit 68 off 44 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes.
India were reduced to four wickets as Sadia Iqbal struck again, with middle-order batsman Bharti Fulmali scoring just one run through a stumping as India struggled to 110-4 in 14.2 overs.
Harmanpreet was dismissed for 36 off 35 balls, including 4 fours, and Fatima Sana took her first wicket to give Pakistan the upper hand.
Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma took the innings forward in the final overs of the first innings, with Sharma quickening the score with a flurry of fours to help the team cross the 150 mark.
Fatima Sana conceded 14 runs in the final over, while Richa scored 34 off 17 balls with five fours and a six, while Deepti Sharma remained unbeaten on 12.
For Pakistan, Sadia Iqbal and Fatima Sana took 2 wickets each and Tasmiya Rubab and Ramin Shamim took one wicket each.