Birmingham, June 14, 2026: An all-round performance by Deepti Sharma guided India to a commanding 64-run victory over Pakistan in their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash at Edgbaston on Sunday.
After helping India post a competitive total with the bat, Deepti starred with the ball, claiming five wickets as Pakistan were bowled out for 106 in 17 overs while chasing a target of 171.
Pakistan made a promising start to the chase, with openers Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza putting on 38 runs for the first wicket. Muneeba looked in fine touch and took the attack to the Indian bowlers during the powerplay.
India secured the breakthrough when Deepti dismissed Gull Feroza for 12 off nine balls, including two boundaries.
Muneeba then combined with Ayesha Zafar to take Pakistan beyond the 50-run mark, but Deepti struck again to remove Ayesha for 12, leaving Pakistan at 53-2 in the seventh over.
The momentum shifted firmly in India’s favour as wickets continued to tumble. Shree Charani tightened the screws by dismissing Saira Jabeen for two runs before Muneeba’s resistance came to an end through a run-out.
Muneeba top-scored for Pakistan with a composed 41 off 35 deliveries, featuring five boundaries, but her departure left Pakistan struggling at 75-4.
Pakistan’s hopes faded further when captain Fatima Sana was dismissed without scoring. Natalia Pervaiz added seven runs before becoming another casualty of India’s disciplined bowling attack.
Charani continued her impressive spell by removing Rameen Shamim, while Deepti returned to clean up the lower order, dismissing Aliya Riaz and Tasmia Rubab before Nashra Sandhu became the final wicket to fall.
Deepti finished with exceptional figures of 5-10 from four overs, while Charani claimed three wickets. Opener Shafali Verma also chipped in with a wicket as India sealed a convincing victory.
Earlier, India recovered from an early wobble to post 170-6 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks largely to a match-defining partnership between Smriti Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
India’s innings began in dramatic fashion when Shafali Verma struck a six off the first ball but was dismissed later in the same over by Pakistan spinner Sadia Iqbal.
The situation worsened when Jemimah Rodrigues fell for just one run, leaving India at 18-2 after 3.2 overs.
Mandhana and Harmanpreet then steadied the innings with a crucial 91-run partnership. Mandhana was at her fluent best, bringing up her 34th T20I half-century before being dismissed by Rameen Shamim after a superb 68 off 44 balls, including nine fours and two sixes.
Harmanpreet contributed 36 off 35 deliveries with four boundaries before becoming one of Fatima Sana’s two wickets.
In the closing overs, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh injected momentum with a blistering 34 off 17 balls, striking five fours and a six. Deepti Sharma remained unbeaten on 12 as India finished strongly.
For Pakistan, Sadia Iqbal and Fatima Sana picked up two wickets each, while Tasmia Rubab and Rameen Shamim claimed one wicket apiece.
The comprehensive victory gives India a winning start to their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign, while Pakistan will look to bounce back in their next group-stage fixture.
