Women’s World Cup: India beat Pakistan by 107 runs

MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New Zealand (AP):

Pooja Rastraka made a career-best 69 in a 112-run seventh-wicket partnership with Sneh Rana, which lifted India to a 107-run win over Pakistan in their opening match yesterday at the Women’s Cricket World Cup.

India were the first team in four matches at the tournament to bat first on winning the toss. The other three teams - New Zealand against the West Indies, Bangladesh against South Africa, and England against Australia - all bowled first and failed in run chases.

In yesterday’s match, India made a commanding 244-7 then defended their total superbly through the spin bowling of Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Deepti Sharma, and Rana as Pakistan struggled to generate momentum and were out for 137 in 43 overs.

Left-armer Gayakwad and off-spinners Sharma and Rana bowled with relentless accuracy to a suffocating off-side field, and the Pakistan batters couldn’t find profitable scoring areas. Gayakwad took 4-31 from her 10 overs.

Wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh claimed five dismissals.

FLIGHT AND DROP

There wasn’t much turn from the pitch at the Bay Oval, but the India spinners used flight and drop to restrict Pakistan. After five overs, Pakistan was 6-0; after 15 overs, 43-1; after 20 overs, 65-3.

Pakistan also bowled well early in the India innings, checking the scoring through the use of spin. India lost opener Shafali Verma in only the third over, but a half century from Smitri Mandhana allowed them to recover to 96-1 in the 22nd over when Mandhana fell for 52.

UPPER HAND

India then lost five wickets for 18 runs between the 23rd and 34th overs, slumping to 114-6 as Pakistan appeared to grab the upper hand. The wickets that fell included India captain Mithali Raj for nine. In taking the field Sunday, Mithali became the first woman and third player after Javed Miandad and Sachin Tendulkar to play at six World Cups after her first in 2000.

Mithali has played in all 11 of India’s matches against Pakistan and India are unbeaten in those matches. Her goal yesterday was for India to score 250 or more, and they fell just short.

Vastrakar was the reason they even came close, coming to the crease at number seven and reaching her one-day international half-century from 48 balls. Her entire innings of 69 came from 57 deliveries and swung the match heavily towards India.

Vastrakar found the perfect partner in Rana, who also scored at a high rate, reaching her maiden ODI half-century from 45 balls with four boundaries.

India were 160-6 in the 40th over and added 84 runs in the last 10 overs to put a score on the board, which required Pakistan to reach their highest World Cup total to win.

India’s win took them to the top of the points table on run-rate after the first full matches. South Africa, Australia, and the Wet Indies also have two points.