Pakistan Women vs India Women Match 9 Full Commentary

Welcome back for the chase. The two umpires and players have made their way out to the centre. No changes up top for India as they stick with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. Pakistan are starting with spin in the form of Sadia Iqbal. Verma is on strike. There is a slip in place. Let's go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Over to the chase - Just four overs of pace were used, as the damage was done almost entirely by the spinners. The wickets were shared around, with Prema Rawat and Sree Charani picking up three apiece, while Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma also chipped in to keep the pressure firmly on Pakistan. Mithali Raj reckons on air that if Shafali Verma gets her eye in, India could finish the chase inside six overs. Anjum Chopra, however, has a different perspective and would like Pratika Rawal to open and give herself some time in the middle. All Pakistan can do now is make the chase as difficult as possible for their rivals and take away some positives from the game.

Let's hear from Sree Charani - She credits her success to simply sticking to her strengths. She explains that the coaches have been encouraging all the bowlers to bowl to their strengths and put more revs on the ball. When she is asked if she's been working on anything specific, she shares there wasn't much beyond focusing on hitting the stumps consistently. On variations, she reveals that she has been trying to bring more consistency to her arm balls while also working on her yorkers. And when asked about a special celebration for her 50th wicket, she smiles it off, admitting she hasn't given it much thought, though she might get around to celebrating it later.

No answer to India's spin - It was a 27-run opening stand up top, and that was as good as it got for Pakistan. Even during that partnership, Muneeba Ali was handed a couple of reprieves, while Shawaal Zulfiqar showed some promise with a couple of boundaries. Once India broke the opening stand, it was a procession from there as the Indian spinners spun a web around the Pakistan batters. Pakistan did not help their cause by going against the turn, and even those who came down the order failed to make that adjustment after seeing the earlier dismissals. No rescue act followed, and no meaningful partnership developed as the wickets kept tumbling.

An unwanted low for Pakistan - In their 200th T20I, they have been bowled out for 55, their lowest total in the format. Only twice have captains opted to bat first in this tournament, and both times it has been Fatima Sana who has done so. Unfortunately for Pakistan, it has all gone wrong tonight. A job well done by India, and they walk off as a proud bunch.

Stumping check! Richa Ghosh seems pretty confident.

Deepti Sharma is back to bowl her off-breaks.

Sree Charani returns for her final over. 3-0-6-3 so far for Charani.

Sadia Iqbal is the last batter.

Short, sweet, ruthless - India have once again made light work of their arch-rivals, Pakistan, extending their stranglehold over them by completely outclassing them across all three departments of the game. They wrap up their league campaign on a high, and attention will now turn to the semi-final on Thursday, 10th September, with the opponent still to be confirmed. Pakistan, on the other hand, have a lot of introspection to do before their next assignment against Hong Kong, China, where they will enter as firm favorites. A win in that fixture is crucial for them to confirm their semi-final berth. Up next, Sri Lanka Women take on Bangladesh Women in a very crucial Group B clash on Sunday, 6th September and the first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 2.30 pm GMT (8 pm IST). Until then, cheers!

The victorious Indian captain - Harmanpreet Kaur is all smiles as she walks up to have a word. Kaur says it was a very important game for them and she is happy with the team's effort. She talks about being ruthless and is pleased with the way they performed. She praises all the bowlers for sticking to their plans and says reading the pitch well was key. Adds that they executed their plans accordingly.  Kaur says the wobble with the bat is part of the game, adding that Pakistan also bowled a few good balls. Harman says it is important to keep their standards high and is really happy to see everyone putting their hand up and producing good performances. On reaching 150 T20Is as India's captain, she says she is grateful and never thought she would come this far. She thanks everyone for their support, adding that without it, none of this would have been possible.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Sree Charani receives the award for her exceptional bowling display. She finished with figures reading 3/7 in 4 overs. She begins by saying that it feels great to contribute in the team's win. She details that her focus was simply on bowling to her strengths and to the field set for her, adding that giving the ball more revs is what's been working for her. On how it feels, she stays grounded, saying it felt like just another day at the office, and while it may hold special meaning, she's more focused on contributing further for her country and continuing her good run of form.

The captain of Pakistan Women - Fatima Sana points out their struggles with the bat as the main reason for the defeat. When asked if batting first was the right decision, she says it was a fresh wicket, so they wanted to bat first, put good runs on the board and back their bowling attack. On her spell with the ball, she says it does not matter as they lost the match. Ends by saying that their focus is on trying to play good cricket and qualify for the next round.

... Post-match Presentation ...

Made the occasion more special - Having already sealed their semi-final spot, with the top order doing the heavy lifting time and again, India would have fancied Shafali alone getting the job done here. But they suffered a mini-collapse up top instead, with Mandhana falling cheaply too, while Pratika once again failed to get going. It was fitting that the skipper, leading India for the 150th time, made the occasion even more memorable with a composed, sensible approach. Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma then combined to arrest the slide, steering India home safely without any further hiccups.

Fatima, the fighter - Pakistan may have posted their lowest-ever T20I total, but Fatima Sana still went about breaching India's first wall, striking thrice through the top order to send back Shafali, Pratika and then Smriti. Defending just 55, though, was always going to demand the same fire breathed from the other end too, and that support simply never arrived. With the ball doing its bit for the spinners throughout, one senses that even a total between 100 and 120 would have made this a far more interesting contest.

Flawed at the root - Pakistan's technique itself came under the scanner here, with several batters caught playing across the line and against the turn, and almost every dismissal coming off an attacking shot. Patience was in short supply, with barely anyone willing to simply spend time at the crease. In fact, barring Shawaal Zulfiqar and Muneeba Ali, not a single batter managed to reach double figures. Look at it this way, Pakistan started off steady at 27/0, only to lose all ten wickets in the next 28 runs.

Spinners boss it up - India's spinners ran riot, accounting for 9 Pakistan wickets between them, with Sree Charani topping the charts courtesy of an exceptional three-wicket haul. Her 50th T20I wicket, though, will have to wait a little longer, one that got away on this occasion. India were a touch sloppy in the field early on, with Pratika putting down Muneeba on 6, but the spin quartet of Charani, Deepti, Prema and Shafali more than made up for it, sniffing the wind clean out of Pakistan's sails.

4.48 pm GMT (10.18 pm IST) - One-sided rivalry - India have handed Pakistan one of their heaviest defeats in the shortest format, and in doing so, reaffirmed once again that they remain the gold standard of cricket in the subcontinent, with no side anywhere close to touching them. They have extended their lead to 15-3 versus Pakistan in T20Is, and 7-1 in the Women's T20 Asia Cup alone. They have also ensured that they finish in pole position in Group A.

Umm-e-Hani is into the attack now, and she replaces Fatima Sana. There's a slip in place.

End of the Powerplay. India would definitely feel that they have lost one too many wickets in a paltry chase of 56. They need 22 runs from 84 balls and Nashra Sundhu has been given the ball now. A slip in place.