BIRMINGHAM: Smriti Mandhana’s swashbuckling fifty, backed by Deepti Sharma’s five-wicket haul, powered India to a big win over Pakistan in the sixth match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2026.
Set a daunting 171, Pakistan’s innings folded on 106 in 17 overs. Muneeba Ali remained the top-scorer with 41 off 35 deliveries.
The openers provided a flying start with a 38-run partnership inside five fours. Gull Feroza was the first one to be dismissed, caught after scoring only 12.
The scorecard read 53 when Ayesha Zafar went back after making 12. Soon after, Shree Charani removed Saira Jabeen (2) to leave Pakistan in deep trouble at 58-3 in eight overs.
Muneeba Ali and Natalia Pervaiz tried to arrest the slide with a 17-run partnership. However, India’s bowlers continued to dominate proceedings with quick wickets.
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Consequently, Pakistan slumped from 75-4 to 91-7 and 107 all out in 17 overs.
For India, Deepti Sharma picked up five wickets while giving away just 10 runs.
Earlier, Smriti Mandhana hit an eye-catching fifty, powering India to 170 in their 20 overs despite a jittery start.
Sadia Iqbal removed Shafali Verma (6) in the first over, followed by Jemimah Rodrigues (1) in the third over. As a result, India were reduced to 18-2.
However, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana shared a 91-run stand for the third wicket to take their side out of trouble.
Kaur played second fiddle while Mandhana cleared the fence over covers on numerous occasions to raise her fifty. Her eye-catching shots made Pakistan bowlers clueless.
The stand was eventually broken in the 14th over as Mandhana was caught scoring after 68 off 44, including nine fours and two sixes.
At this moment, Pakistan sniffed a comeback with quick wickets, leaving India 123-5 in 16 overs.
But it was Rich Ghosh’s cameo that provided the innings’ late flourish, scoring 34 off just 17 deliveries, striking a six and five fours.
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