ICC Women’s WC: India thrash Pak by 10 wkts

The target of 58 was never enough to test the India batters who achieved the victory in 10 overs in bright sunshine.

Anjum Chopra (17) and stumper Anagha Deshpande (26) remained unbeaten to guide India home. Earlier,Sana Mir (17) and Bismah Maroof (11),apart from the 10 extras,were the only batters to reach the double figures in Pakistan’s innings.

The Indian bowlers,spearheaded by captain Jhulan Goswami,bowled to a teasing line and length and made full use of the early morning conditions.

While Goswami picked up a wicket by conceding 18 runs,her new ball partner and Player of the Match Rumeli Dhar finished with figures of 8-5-7-3.

Vice-captain Amita Sharma and Priyanka Roy chipped in with 2 for 9 and 2 for 13 respectively. “It was an important victory for us as it was World Cup opener and against Pakistan. I am glad we have started the tournament on a winning note and I look forward to improving our performance,” Jhulan said after the match.

“I never expected Pakistan to be bowled out for 57 but this reflects how well we utilised the conditions. We got a bit sloppy in the later part of Pakistan’s innings and I am not happy about that. We cannot afford to be complacent at any stage because no match is finished until the final bowl is bowled,” Goswami added.

A dejected Pakistan captain Urooj Mumtaz conceded that her team was outplayed by the Indians and their morale was down after the crushing defeat.

“I will not try to hide behind excuses. The simple fact is it was not a good day in the office for us and we performed poorly in all three departments of the game,” she said.

“The girls are really down after today’s performance and it would be difficult to lift their spirits but it’s a World Cup and we have to put this performance behind us and look forward to the next two matches,” she added.

In another match at Manuka Oval,Canberra,Claire Taylor,the top-ranked batter in the Reliance Mobile ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings,stroked her eighth career century to set up England’s 100-run victory over Sri Lanka.

Before the start of both the matches,players and officials,together with the match officials and spectators,observed a minute’s silence for those killed or injured during Tuesday’s terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan men’s cricket team in Lahore.

Taylor was in prime form when she clubbed 10 fours in her 95-ball 101 before falling to Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler Eshani Lokusooriya (2-41) in the 47th over.

Taylor’s masterly innings helped England reach 277-5 in 50 overs after Shashikala Siriwardena had won the toss and put Charlotte Edwards’ side into bat.

Defending champion Australia will face New Zealand at North Sydney. In the other match tomorrow,the West Indies will play qualifier South Africa in Newcastle with the winner most likely to go through to the Super Six stage along with Australia and New Zealand from group A.