Women's Asia Cup: Pakistan Shock India For First T20 Win Over Arch-Rivals Since 2016

Indian batters bungled badly in a straightforward chase as Pakistan recorded their first win over the arch-rivals in six years with a 13-run victory in the Women's Asia Cup, in Sylhet on Friday. India, the most formidable team in Asia by some distance, batted poorly to be all out for 124 in 19.4 overs after Pakistan posted a modest 137 for six. Pakistan scripted a remarkable turnaround less than 24 hours after their shock loss over Thailand. At 65 for five, India were in all sorts of trouble with majority of the batters including star player Smriti Mandhana (17 off 19) throwing their wickets away.

Prior this game, India enjoyed a 10-2 record over Pakistan in the format whose previous win over the arch-rivals came way back in the 2016 T20 World Cup in New Delhi.

Pooja Vastrakar got herself run out after attempting a run off a misfield while Dayalan Hemalatha (20 off 22) let her team down after not capitalising on a start.

Questions were raised over Harmanpreet Kaur's fitness as she came into bat at number seven before perishing cheaply.

"I think in the middle we were trying to give other batters a chance. That cost us today. It was a chaseable target. In the middle overs, we were not able to rotate the strike," a dejected Harmanpreet said after the match.

With India needing 61 off the last six overs, Pakistan were the favourites to pull of an unexpected win.

Richa Ghosh (26 off 13), who had be taken off the field in Pakistan's innings after suffering a heat stroke, brought India back into the game with three sixes against the spinners before getting caught in the deep in the 19th over. Her dismissal effectively ended all of India's hopes.

Earlier, Pakistan, who were shocked by Thailand on Thursday, put an improved batting