The scoreboard may give the appearance of a one-sided contesting an emphatic 64-run victory for India over Pakistan in their Women’s World Cup clash on Sunday, but it described a far more balanced affair at first. Pakistan stuck to their plans for the best part of nine overs and appeared well set to seize control of the latest high-pressure clash at a sold-out grounds.
A lone-wolf stroke from Smriti Mandhana turned the tide of this game.
Mandhana, against left-arm seamer Tasmia Rubab stepped out of her crease and hit the ball over long-off for a sensational six. It was more than a border, it was a message. Pakistan were starting to get into their rhythm and that shot completely altered the momentum of the game in India’s favour.
Pakistan had been keeping the lines tight, their clever field placements adding pressure until that point. With their bowlers having limited the free scoring of India’s batters, they looked assured. However, with the kind of onslaught Mandhana had laid for them, they needed to go back to the drawing board. Fielders got shuffled around, bowling plans altered andPakistan’s game began to get a bit less certain.
It was this hesitation that Mandhana beautifully capitalised on, with a balanced but aggressive innings. Combining grace with dominance, she rotated the strike effectively and seized on any lose delivery which was given to her. With her strongest asset being able to absorb pressure then hit back, this demonstrated having experience at the top level.
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She was ultimately the only half-centurion in the match, confirming (once again) her value to India’s batting. Her innings formed a platform for a decent target and provided the Indian bowlers with sufficient runs to defend.
The scoreboard pressure increased, and Pakistan were unable to keep up during the chase. Mandhana was superbly backed up in the bowling department by disciplined and timely strikes from – well, all of India’s bowlers. The needed rate continued to rise and Pakistan never recovered from that momentum shift that began with Mandhana’s audacious six.
Mandhana’s authoritative intervention was pivotal among a host of players who played their part in India’s historic win. On a day of extreme pressure and fine margins, one memorable moment brought India back from the brink & led them into World Cup glory over their arch-rivals.