Pakistan’s Batting Collapse Hands India Emphatic Asia Cup Victory

DUBAI: India produced a dominant all-round display to register a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the ninth match of the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

India’s bowlers first dismantled Pakistan for a mere 55 before the batters completed the chase in just 8.4 overs, leaving them with 68 deliveries to spare.

Prema Rawat and Shree Charani claimed three wickets apiece as Pakistan’s batting innings fell apart after a promising start. Deepti Sharma also contributed with two wickets, while Shafali Verma took one.

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana elected to bat after winning the toss, but the decision failed to produce the desired result. Openers Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar initially gave Pakistan some momentum, adding 27 runs for the opening wicket.

Verma eventually broke the stand in the fifth over, dismissing Muneeba for 13 off 15 balls after the opener had struck her for a boundary.

Pakistan’s innings then rapidly unravelled. Charani struck twice in the following over, removing Gull Feroza for a duck before sending Zulfiqar back for 14 off 14 balls, including three fours.

From 29/1, Pakistan slipped into serious trouble as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Their final seven batters managed only 26 runs, with Fatima also departing without scoring.

Tuba Hassan offered some resistance towards the end, but Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 55 in 18.1 overs, their lowest-ever total in Women’s T20I cricket.

India’s chase also experienced an early wobble despite the modest target. Fatima Sana made an immediate impact with the ball, dismissing Shafali Verma for 12 and Pratika Rawal for four in the second over, reducing India to 18/2.

Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur attempted to rebuild, but their partnership lasted only 11 runs before Fatima claimed her third wicket by removing Mandhana for nine.

With India reduced to 29/3 after four overs, Kaur and Deepti Sharma took control of the chase. The experienced pair avoided further damage and calmly guided India across the finish line in the ninth over.

Kaur remained unbeaten on 18 from 18 deliveries, hitting one four and a six, while Deepti finished on 12 not out from 14 balls.

Fatima was Pakistan’s standout bowler despite the defeat, finishing with impressive figures of 3/17 from three overs.

The victory extended India’s winning run in the tournament to three matches and took them to the top of Group A with six points. Their net run rate also received a significant boost, rising to 5.471.

India had already secured a place in the semi-finals after beating Hong Kong on Thursday.

Pakistan, meanwhile, occupy second place with two points from two games, although their net run rate has dropped to -0.569.

The Green Shirts will conclude their group-stage campaign against Hong Kong on Thursday.