India defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets in Match 4 of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 at Cape Town on Sunday, February 12, to kick-start their campaign on a winning note.
Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof won the toss and elected to bat first, and her brilliant innings of 68* and young Ayesha Naseem's brisk 43* helped the team to set a target of 150 for India. Radha Yadav took 2/21 to be the most successful Indian bowler.
Shafali Verma (33) and Yastika Bhatia (17) gave India a steady start but there was a hiccup thereafter as India were 93/3 in the 14th over, when wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh joined Jemimah Rodrigues in the middle.
The duo batted sensibly for couple of overs before cutting loose and transferring the pressure on Pakistan, who panicked in the field and lost the plot with their bowling plans. Ghosh remained 31* in 20 balls, as Jemimah Rodrigues struck the winning shot and completed her fifty to be 53* in 38 balls. She was also named the Player-of-the-Match.
While the cricket fraternity heaped praise on the 'Women in Blue' for their victory, batting superstar and former India Men's captain Virat Kohli too joined in to congratulate the team as well, while appreciating how they have taken giant steps with each tournament and are inspiring young girls in the country to take up cricket as a profession.
READ ALSO: Cricket fraternity rejoices as Jemimah, Richa help India to 7-wicket win over Pakistan
Kohli wrote on Instagram, “What a win from our women's team against Pakistan in a high pressure game and a tough run chase. The women’s team is taking such giant leaps ahead with every tournament we play and it’s going to inspire a whole generation of girls to take up the sport and take women’s cricket higher and higher. More power to all of you. God bless.”
India will next take on West Indies, on February 15 at the same venue.
