Dubai, September 5, 2026: India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by seven wickets on Saturday after impressive bowling performances from Prema Rawat and Shree Charani, followed by a composed batting display, in the ninth match of the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Chasing a modest target of 56, India reached the winning total in the ninth over for the loss of three wickets, with 68 balls to spare. Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma remained unbeaten to guide the former champions comfortably over the line.
India suffered an early setback when Pakistan captain Fatima Sana dismissed Shafali Verma for 12 and Pratika Rawal for four in the second over, leaving India at 18 for two.
Smriti Mandhana joined captain Harmanpreet Kaur at the crease, but the pair could add only 11 runs before Fatima struck again, removing Mandhana for nine and reducing India to 29 for three after four overs.
Kaur then combined with all-rounder Deepti Sharma to steady the innings. The pair remained unbeaten and completed the chase in the ninth over with a 28-run fourth-wicket partnership.
Kaur top-scored with an unbeaten 18 from 18 deliveries, including a four and a six, while Deepti remained not out on 12 from 14 balls.
Fatima was Pakistan’s only successful bowler, finishing with three wickets for 17 runs from her three overs.
Earlier, Pakistan’s decision to bat first backfired as their batting line-up collapsed for just 55 in 18.1 overs, their lowest-ever total in women’s T20 internationals.
Pakistan openers Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar initially provided their side with a solid start, putting together 27 runs.
India eventually broke the partnership in the fifth over when Shafali Verma dismissed Muneeba for 13 off 15 balls, including a boundary.
Shree Charani then produced a double strike in the following over, removing Gull Feroza for a duck before dismissing Zulfiqar, who top-scored for Pakistan with 14 from 14 deliveries, including three fours.
Charani’s twin strikes triggered a dramatic collapse as Pakistan lost their remaining seven wickets for just 26 runs. Captain Fatima was dismissed for a duck, while Tuba Hassan offered some resistance in the lower order before Pakistan were bowled out for 55.
Rawat and Charani led India’s bowling attack with three wickets apiece, while Deepti Sharma claimed two wickets and Shafali Verma took one.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Muneeba Ali (wk), Shawaal Zulfiqar, Gull Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas, Fatima Sana (c), Eyman Fatima, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Umm-e-Hani.
India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Nandani Sharma.
