CWG 2022: Mandhana Helps India Beat Pakistan By 8 Wickets In Crucial Group A Match

Cricket Image for CWG 2022: Mandhana Helps India Beat Pakistan By 8 Wickets In Crucial Group A Match (Image Source: Twitter)

After an impressive bowling performance, team India followed up with brilliant batting to beat Pakistan by 8 wickets in a must-win game. India have kept their chances of winning a medal alive in the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2022.

Chasing a total of 100 runs, Indian openers got off to a great start as the duo of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana added 61 runs for the first wicket in 5.4 overs. Shafali was dismissed by Tuba Hassan after scoring 16 runs.

Smriti Mandhana held one end as she added 33 runs for the second wicket with Sabbhineni Meghana (14) and then took India to victory with an unbeaten 8-run partnership with her friend Jemimah Rodrigues to seal a crucial win for team India in just 11.4 overs. 

Smriti Mandhana remained unbeaten after scoring 63 runs in 42 balls with 8 fours & 3 sixes. For Pakistan, Tuba Hassan and Omaima Sohail managed 1 wicket each. 

In the first innings, Indian bowlers performed exceedingly well to restrict arch-rivals Pakistan to 99/10 in 18 overs in a must-win game. 

The game had a delayed start due to rain and was shortened to 18 overs per side. Pakistan lost their first wicket for 0 after which opener Muneeba Ali (32) and Bismah Maroof (17) added 50 runs for the second wicket. 

However, these two were dismissed in the same over and Pakistan's batting went downhill from there on. For India, Sneh Rana & Radha Yadav picked up 2 wickets each while Renuka Singh, Meghna Singh & Shafali Verma managed 1 wicket each. India now need 100 runs in 18 overs to stay in race for a medal. 

WHAT A WIN!

India Knocked Pakistan Out Of The Commonwealth Games 2022! #CWG2022 #CommonwealthGames2022 #IndianCricket #India pic.twitter.com/YmwqNFJZP2

— CRICKETNMORE (@cricketnmore) July 31, 2022

Earlier, Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof won the toss & opted to bat first against India. This match is being played at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Brief Score:

• Pakistan - 99/10 in 18 overs (Muneeba - 32(30), Rana - 2/15)
• India - 102/2 in 11.4 overs (Mandhana - 63*(42), Hassan - 1/18)