IND W vs PAK W, Women's Asia Cup: Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. demolish Pakistan in one-sided affair

IND W vs PAK W, Women's Asia Cup (X/BCCIWomen)

IND W vs PAK W, Women's Asia Cup: The Indian women's cricket team led by Harmanpreet Kaur displayed an all-round show and demolished Pakistan by seven wickets to open their Women's Asia Cup campaign on an emphatic note in Dambulla on Friday.

Pakistan, who won the toss and opted to bat, were bundled up for 108 in 19.2 overs. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana in response gave India a perfect start and added 85 runs for the opening wicket. Mandhana was the first batter dismissed for 45(31) as Syeda Aroob Shah provided Pakistan with the first breakthrough in the 10th over.

However, the match was well within India's grip by then as Verma along with Dayalan Hemalatha kept dealing in boundaries. Syeda Aroob Shah then provided Pakistan with the second wicket as she cleaned up Verma on 40(29).

Hemalatha then tried to wrap things early but lost her wicket in the process. She scored 14(11) before getting caught at point by Tuba Hassan off Nashra Sandhu's bowling.

Skipper Kaur along with Jemimah Rodrigues then completed the formalities and wrapped the run chase in 14.1 overs. Both batters returned unbeaten, with Kaur scoring 5(11), and Rodrigues getting 3(3).

Earlier, the Indian bowlers put on a stellar show with Deepti Sharma leading the charge. The spinner scalped three wickets in her full quota of overs and gave just 20 runs at an economy of 5.

Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh, and Shreyanka Patil returned with two scalps each, with Renuka proving to be the most economical among the three.

Renuka gave just 14 runs in her quota of overs and scalped both the wickets in the last two deliveries of her fourth over. Patil too gave just 14 runs in the 3.2 overs she bowled, while Vastrakar was a bit expensive as she leaked 31 runs in her four overs.

Ameen was the highest scorer among the Pakistan batters, managing 25(35). Apart from her only two others -- Tuba Hassan and Fatima Sana -- could breach the 20-run mark. Both scored 22 runs each.

India will next take on UAE, which is scheduled for Sunday at the same venue, the only difference being it will be a day game.