The action continued in cricket in the Commonwealth Games 2022 on Day 3 as arch-rivals India and Pakistan faced each other in the 5th Match on Sunday. Both India and Pakistan came into this fixture after losing their previous encounters against Australia and Barbados respectively. Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof called it correctly at the toss and decided to bat first in the rain-curtailed game of 18 overs.
Pakistan openers, Muneeba Ali and Iram Javed walked out to the middle, and were put under pressure straight away by the Indian bowlers as they started with a maiden. The pressure finally got to Javed as she was caught behind by wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia. The dismissal brought the Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof to the crease as she tried to stabilize the innings with Muneeba Ali after the early blow. The duo added 50 runs for the second wicket.
After the solid partnership, the Pakistan batters completed lost control of the innings and began losing wickets continuously. The Indian bowlers didn’t let loose and tightened their grip on the match as the Pakistan batter surrendered to their relentless bowling.
Sneh Rana and Radha Yadav picked up 2 wickets each. Renuka Singh, Meghna Singh and Shafali Verma also picked up one wicket each as Pakistan failed to reach even 100-run-mark and got bundled out for 99 in the allotted 18 overs.
The Indian openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana gave a blistering start to the Indian innings as they took the attack on the Pakistan bowlers right from ball one. The duo took the game away from Pakistan as they added 61 runs for the first wicket in 5.5 overs. Tuba Hassan finally broke the partnership as she dismissed Varma.
The dismissal didn’t put brakes on Mandhana’s fearless strokeplay as she continued to charge down the track taking on the bowlers. She brought up her half-century sending a ball from Tuba Hassan into the stands. Mandhana’s 42-ball 63 run knock helped India chase down the target easily with 38 balls to spare as they won by eight wickets.
India are now placed second in Group A points table as they have a better run-rate than Barbados. The team will face next on 3rd August. The winner of the match will progress to the semi-finals.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the victory by Women In Blue:
Now it's a time for India vs Pakistan
Chak de India ??#CommonwealthGames— Amrit (@stylishamrit) July 31, 2022
Me to Pakistani fans watching India Vs Pakistan women's match. pic.twitter.com/g9hvassUzZ
— Taimoor Zaman (@taimoorze) July 31, 2022
Winning moments India vs Pakistan at CWG 2022 pic.twitter.com/28HVWgyRQn
— Rohit Bagde ?? (@_mind_healer_) July 31, 2022
Pakistan women lost the match vs india and comments like this litteraly breaks my heart into pieces . I hope allah gives akal and good mindsets to them pic.twitter.com/zWueXzgv76
— Atiqa Akram (@atiqaakramm) July 31, 2022
Wonderful Cricket ? ? #TeamIndia ??
Congratulations Girls. Proud Of You!?? ????#indiaVsPakistan pic.twitter.com/TaT3BnJw7K
— ??????? ??? ~ ???? ??? ?? (@SaurabhRaii_) July 31, 2022
This match is reminding me of India vs Pakistan in the Men's 2021 T20 World Cup. It could end up as a 10-wicket win for India Women and as one-sided as the match we saw at Dubai. #CWG2022
— Farid Khan ???? (@_FaridKhan) July 31, 2022
Equation is simple ?
Australia women ?? are qualified to Semi-finals.
Pakistan women ?? are OUT from Semi-finals race.India ?? vs Barbados ?? match will decide the 2nd Semi finalist from Group A on 3rd August. #cricket #CWG2022 #INDvPAK
— Visheshta Jotwani ??? (@visheshtaa_j) August 1, 2022
India vs Pakistan Women Cricket … ?? won pic.twitter.com/qPZMvVIEPF
— Prashanthi C (@11Mitochondria) July 31, 2022
Amazing atmosphere at the cricket #indiaVsPakistan ?? #CommonwealthGames pic.twitter.com/p7cB3Bf1LJ
— Prof Vikki Burns ? (@DrVikkiBurns) July 31, 2022
I've never understood the media hype up between India vs Pakistan when Pakistan isn't even the 2nd best in Asia
The 2 best country in Asia is Sri lanka. Then the Rest is following, like Afghanistan, Bangladesh,Nepal, Uae etc.
But at the very top standing India & Sri lanka…— Stunner 12:1 (@Clownkillers007) July 31, 2022
If it were Indian men's team, they'd first play like its a green seaming track in PP, lose few wickets, chase slowly and then joke around. #INDvsPAK
— Wanderer (@DisDatNothin) July 31, 2022
