Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur helps India Women beat Pakistan in T20 Asian Cup

Bangkok, Nov 29 (CRICKETNMORE) The Indian women's cricket team beat arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in the T20 Asia Cup match here on Tuesday.

After triumphing over Bangladesh and Thailand in their first two matches, India rode on an all-round effort from captain Harmanpreet Kaur to record their third win.

Put in to bat by India, Pakistan posted 97/7 in 20 overs at the Asian Institute of Technology Ground here.

India women chased down the score in the final over, keeping their composure intact and five wickets in hand.

India's One-Day captain and experienced opener Mithali Raj top-scored with 36, but it was Harmanpreet who led from the front, staying till the end and taking India over the line with a reassuring 26 from 22 balls that included three fours.

Earlier, left-arm tweaker Ekta Bisht returned figures of 3/20 while off-spinner Anuja Patil took 2/12 in her quota of four overs.

Harmanpreet, with her slow medium pace bowling, picked up 2 for 16. Middle-order batter Nain Abidi top scored for Pakistan with an unbeaten 37.

India next play Sri Lanka women on December 1 and Nepal women the next day.