India Dominates Pakistan in Women's T20 World Cup Opener

India started the Women's T20 World Cup in style, crushing Pakistan by 64 runs in their opening match.

Smriti Mandhana led the charge with a half-century off 44 balls, before Deepti Sharma took five wickets for just 10 runs to help India secure a strong win.

Pakistan struggled to launch against the Indian spinners, with the team falling to 79 for six inside 13 overs. Deepti delivered a remarkable performance, taking key wickets and running out Muneeba Ali with a direct hit for 41.

India's victory marked their 50-over world champions' first step towards making a strong impact in the T20 version of the tournament. The team is supported by the Women's Premier League, a domestic tournament that has attracted top players from around the world.

In contrast, Pakistan have never advanced past the group stage at the T20 World Cup, and their board's plans to start a women's franchise league have stalled.

Despite the dominant nature of the match, Harmanpreet Kaur, India's captain, downplayed the rivalry between the two teams, saying, 'We are here for cricket, and we only talk about cricket.'

The win for India was a fitting start to the tournament, with Edgbaston showcasing an attendance figure of 18,814 - the highest for any match so far.

The Indian team's dominant performance against Pakistan was a testament to their strength and depth. Mandhana and Harmanpreet put together a solid stand of 91 inside 11 overs, while Richa Ghosh provided a thumping finish with her 17-ball 34.

With Deepti's impressive show, India secured their victory with relative ease, leaving Pakistan to ponder their performance in the next match.