IND-W vs PAK-W

Right then, India get on the board with a hard-earned victory against Pakistan. Their next assignment will be against the Asian champs Sri Lanka in three days time but before that they will want their skipper Harman to be fit and ready for the game. We will have to wait for that but what we will not have to wait for is some more Indian cricket as the Indian men's team is facing the Bangladesh unit in the first match of the 3-match T20I series, follow it live here. You can also hop on to here for some more of Women's T20 WC action with West Indies and Scotland set to lock horns. From here, it is Sourabh and Rudransh taking your leave, take care!

Smriti Mandhana has walked out to the post-match conference as Harman had an injury, here are her words: Too soon to comment on that (Harman's injury), the medical team is having a look, hopefully it is nothing serious. We were really disciplined as a bowling and fielding unit. We could have done better with a better start with the bat but we will take this. We did have the NRR in mind but me and Shafali were not able to time the ball as well as we would have liked at the start. We have the NRR in our heads. Hopefully this game can give us momentum.

Fatima Sana (Pakistan Women captain): We were not up to the mark in batting, 10-15 runs short. Hopefully in the next match (change the batting order). We enjoyed a lot while fielding, looking forward to the next game (against Australia).

Arundhati Reddy is the Player of the Match for her 3/19, here's what she has to say: I have been bowling with the new ball. I knew we had to be prepared with the powerplay. It went well and it was a good start. I have worked a lot on my T20 bowling, right from the middle overs to death. Glad it's coming off. It was a day game, it was pretty hot but we are used to this weather back home. My focus was on using my variations and slower ones when needed.

17:22 Local Time (18:52 IST):

India Women win by 6 wickets

Shafali Verma 32(35) | Arundhati Reddy 3/19 (4)
Nida Dar 28(34) | Fatima Sana 2/23 (4)

Not in the most convincing of ways as a lot of people expected but India do get past the line in a tense run-chase and register their first points in the T20 WC 2024 as they defeat arch-rivals Pakistan once again on the world stage.

The target of 106 was not a huge one by any stretch but Pakistan did really well to make a contest out of this one. Openers Shafali and Smriti started off in a sedate manner, uncharacteristically and that was a combination of some tight bowling by the Pakistan bowlers and some not-so aggressive tactics from the openers.

Smriti succumbed to the pressure of the dot balls and then a surprising move saw Jemimah walk in at 3. Shafali and Jemimah knocked the bowlers around and did not seem to be in any hurry as they went about collecting runs in only singles and doubles. The Pakistan bowlers, specially the spinners, which they had so many of, kept things tight and did not allow the runs to flow.

Shafali looked to breakthrough but holed out after a boundary. Then, Jemimah and Harman got together but they seemed content to be knocking it around again. They left the door slightly ajar for Pakistan with their defensive tactics and Pakistan did manage to make a late entry courtesy a double-wicket 16th over from skipper Fatima where she dismissed Jemimah and Richa off consecutive deliveries.

Harman held one end up and kept her cool in the end for India striking a crucial boundary with the pressure going up in the 18th over and even though she left the field holding her neck with 2 runs to win, Sajana came out and finished it with a first-ball boundary.

18.5 Nida Dar to S Sajana, FOUR! India win! How's that for your first stroke in a World Cup match against Pakistan? Full and wide, proper half-volley and Sajana shows no half-measures in going inside out over covers. It clears the fielder and rolls to the fence past a dive from the long off fielder. They have crawled but they have won.

Looks like Harmanpreet is walking off. Yes indeed! She seems to be in a bit of discomfort and is holding the back of her neck. Let's hope that is nothing serious for the Indian skipper

Harman did all that she could to drag her toe back inside the crease and it was definitely a missed opportunity for Pakistan. She might have done some damage to herself as the physio walks out to give her some attention

18.4 Nida Dar to Harmanpreet Kaur, OH! Missed stumping and a funny one at that. Full and wide, Harmanpreet looks to drive it square but misses and falls over. Muneeba doesn't collect and Harmanpreet scrambles and rolls her legs lying down to stay in her crease! 

With that strike from Harman, the Indians are all of a sudden breathing easy. Just the 4 needed in 2 overs now and it should be finished off in this over itself

17.6 Sana Fatima to Harmanpreet Kaur, tries to go over the bowler this time but it's all power and no timing, clears the pitch but just for a single

That could be the blow that seals it for India! 100 up as well and now they are just one hit away, that boundary came after a gap of 39 deliveries