Sidra Ameen pulled off a blinder just inches away from the boundary line to dismiss Shafali Verma in the T20 Women’s World Cup encounter between India and Pakistan in Cape Town on Sunday. Shafali looked in dangerous form in the run chase and it took a special effort in the deep to put an end to her innings. While batting at 33, Shafali slammed a delivery from Nashra Sandhu straight down the ground but Ameen was there at the boundary line and she pulled off a sensational effort by jumping and catching the ball in just one hand.
@SidraAmin31 wow😲 😳😱 what a catch #PAKWVINDW pic.twitter.com/OmK35ra5xM
— Daniyal munir (@DaniAinee) February 12, 2023
Indian bowlers failed to impress in the back end of the Pakistan innings as they allowed their rivals to post a competitive 149 for 4.
Pakistan, who elected to bat, were reduced to 43 for 3 in the eighth over but they made a brilliant recovery, scoring 91 runs in the second half of their innings with captain Bismah Maroof (68 not out) and Ayesha Naseem (43 not out) stitching 81 runs for the unconquered fifth wicket.
Maroof struck seven fours during her 55-ball unbeaten knock while Naseem hit two fours and two sixes from 25 balls during her unbeaten innings. The duo frustrated the Indian bowlers for more than eight overs to take Pakistan to a competitive total.
For India, left-arm spinner Radha Yadav was the most successful bowler with figures of 2/21 while Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar got one wicket each.
India did not take long to get the breakthrough, with in-form off-spinner Deepti Sharma dismissing Pakistan opener Javeria Khan (8) in the second over with India captain Harmanpreet Kaur taking an easy catch at short fine leg after the batter had struck a boundary in the previous ball.
Pakistan showed attacking intent even after the early jolt as captain and one-down Bismah Maroof hit two consecutive boundaries in the fourth over. Pakistan were 39 for one at the end of powerplay overs.
A change in bowling yielded success for the Indians as left-arm spinner Radha Yadav removed the other opener Muneeba Ali (12) in the seventh over. A smart review by the Indians in the next over resulted to another wicket as Nida Dar was ruled out as there was a slight touch of the ball on her gloves off Pooja Vastrakar.
The two quick wickets set Pakistan on the back-foot from a promising position as they were reduced to 58 for 3 at the halfway mark.
The experienced Maroof was going strong and held one end together but wickets fell around her, including that of Sidra Ameen (11) who became Yadav’s second victim in the 13th over.
With the arrival of Ayesha Naseem in the 13th over, Pakistan pressed the accelerator as she made scoring look easy with a six and four off Renuka Singh in the 16th over.
(With PTI inputs)
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