Women’s World Cup: India record emphatic victory over Pakistan

India recorded an impressive 107-run Women’s World Cup victory over arch-rivals Pakistan despite an off-colour performance from their batters at the Bay Oval in Tauranga on Sunday.

A record seventh-wicket partnership between all-rounders Pooja Vastrakar and Sneh Rana proved crucial for India..

India were struggling at 114 for six at one stage and seemed to be under pressure when Vastrakar and Rana blasted their highest ODI scores to lift India to a competitive 244 for seven much to the delight of their fans who shouted in support and encouragement.

In reply, Pakistan never got going as they slipped to 98 for seven, wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh taking a record five dismissals on World Cup debut as India earned their first win in the Women’s World Cup 2022.

India won the toss and chose to bat with the Bay Oval bathed in glorious sunshine, but there was a storm brewing in the middle as Shafali Verma was dismissed for a duck. Diana Baig cleaned up her leg stump as Verma’s issues in the one-day format continued on to the World Cup stage.

Fellow opener Smriti Mandhana would provide the release, scoring the first boundary with the 25th ball of the innings. Mandhana was timing the ball beautifully but boundaries still proved hard to come by, a pre-meditated strike down the ground in the final over of the power play landed so forcefully it plugged short of the boundary.

She didn’t let that stop her as two balls later the ball sailed over the boundary to bring up India’s first six and end the powerplay with India 33 for one.

Pakistan’s fielding had been accurate with singles cut off and boundary hopes reeled in, but at the 20 over mark the field settings grew more and more defensive.

Mandhana’s fifty would soon come bringing it up off