Women's Asia Cup 2022: Nida Dar's All-Round Show Helps Pakistan Trump India

All-rounder Nida starred with both bat and ball, scoring an unbeaten fifty and picking 3 wickets respectively.

Women's Asia Cup: India have been defeated by Pakistan on Friday.

(Photo: PCB)

• Pakistan beat India by 13 runs in the Women's Asia Cup match on Friday in Sylhet, Bangladesh.

• Pakistan 137/6 in 20 overs (Nida Dar 56 not out, Bismah Maroof 32; Deepti Sharma 3/27, Pooja Vastrakar 2/23).

• India 124 all out in 19.4 overs (Richa Ghosh 26, Dayalan Hemalatha 20; Nashra Sundhu 3/30, Nida Dar 2/23).

Riding on Nida Dar's all-round show, Pakistan pulled off a big upset in the 2022 Women's Asia Cup, defeating India by 13 runs, just 24 hours after a shock four-wicket loss to Thailand.

Nida, who impressed with both the bat and ball hit an unbeaten 56 off 37 balls and picked two wickets (2/23) to help Pakistan record their first win over arch-rivals India in the Women's Asia Cup. This is just the third time Pakistan have beaten India in T20Is.

Batting first, Pakistan rode on Dar's quickfire fifty to post 137/6 in the stipulated 20 overs following a few early setbacks. In reply, the Indian batters barely found time to settle, with only Richa Ghosh playing a late scare, smashing 26 off just 13 balls, including three sixes and a four.

However, Aliya Riaz ended the Indian's stay at the crease with a clutch of a catch at long-on -- her third of the day, to put the game in Pakistan's favour.

Nida Dar Hits Fifty as Pakistan Post 137/6

Earlier, Deepti Sharma picked up three wickets (3/27) as Pakistan posted 137/6 after the stipulated 20 overs against India in Match 13 of the 2022 Women's Asia Cup.

Had it not been for Nida Dar’s crucial unbeaten 56 runs off 37 deliveries and captain Bismah Mahroof’s 32 (35 balls), Pakistan would have been in a spot of bother after losing a few early wickets.

For India, Pooja Vastrakar grabbed two wickets (2/23) from her full quota of four overs.

India had the best of starts as they picked three wickets for 33 in the first powerplay, courtesy Pooja Vastrakar’s opening breakthrough and Deepti Sharma’s two scalps.  

A faint edge off seamer Vastrakar’s ball into the hands of Richa Gosh saw Pakistan lose opener, Sidra Ameen, for 11 runs (14 balls). In the final over before the powerplay, Deepti put India in front by sending Muneeba Ali (17 off 17 balls) and Omaima Sohai (0) packing under just three balls.  

After few early setbacks, Pakistan steadied their innings through skipper Bismah Mahroof and Nida Dar. The duo shared a 76-run fourth-wicket partnership to take Pakistan’s total past the 100.  

The two Pakistanis rotated the strike well with Dar taking the aggressor’s role while Mahroof played the anchor. However, Renuka Singh Thakur broke the partnership when Mahroof (32 off 35 balls) got a little cheeky by trying to scoop the Indian, only to find Rajeshwari Gayakwad at short third man.  

While Dar raced to her sixth T20I fifty in just 30 balls, Pakistan lost new batter Aliya Riaz (7 off 7 balls) after Sabbhineni Meghana completed a blinder of a catch to offer Vastrakar her second wicket of the day. 

After a little cameo, Ayesha Naseem (9 off 7 balls) mistimed a full toss from Deepti Sharma into midwicket where Jemimah Rodrigues completed an excellent catch as Pakistan finished their innings at 137/6 after 20 overs.   

Indian Chase Ends 13 Runs Short

In the chase, Sabbhineni Meghana got going with a six and four off Nida and Sadia Iqbal respectively. But in the fourth over, she sliced straight to cover off Nashra Sandhu. Jemimah Rodrigues struggled to hit her groove despite surviving two chances and top-edged a sweep to point off Nida. 

Hemalatha and Smriti Mandhana hit a couple of boundaries to get India back in the match but Nashra got the former out by holing out to long-on. More chaos ensued as Pooja was run-out in a massive mix-up and in the next over, Hemalatha was castled by Tuba Hasan. 

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti hit four fours in their 26-run partnership off 19 balls for the sixth wicket before the latter top-edged a sweep off Sadia. In the next over, Harmanpreet tried to loft-off but found the fielder instead. 

Richa tried to pull off a heist by smacking Nashra for back-to-back sixes on the leg-side in the 18th over. She then hit another six over deep mid-wicket and a lofted four over cover off Sadia in the 19th over to keep the hopes alive for an unlikely win.  

But when her slog-sweep found the fielder at long-on, the result was assured to be going Pakistan's way.

(With inputs from IANS)