INDIA DEMOLISH PAK IN WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
India clinch third straight game in World Cup with spinner Ekta Bisht’s fivewicket haul
EKTA BISHT PICKS UP FIVE SCALPS IN 95RUN VICTORY
5/18 were Ekta Bisht’s figures as she helped India crush Pakistan by 95 runs.
NEWDELHI: Riding on Ekta Bisht’s second career five-wicket haul, India thrashed Pakistan by 95 runs to register their third consecutive win in the Women’s World Cup 2017 on Sunday. India completed a ‘perfect 10’ over their arch-rivals in ODIs with the convincing victory, having gone into the game with a 9-0 record. Left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht’s figures of 5/18 is the best bowling figures by an Indian in Women’s World Cup history. India scored 169/9 in 50 overs and bundled out Pakistan for 74 in 38.1 overs.
EARLY STRIKE
Defending a total of 169 on a tricky Derby wicket, Ekta provided India the early breakthrough as she got rid of the in-form Ayesha Zafar for 1. The Pakistan opener played the wrong line to be trapped in front.
India pacer Jhulan Goswami, the leading wicket-taker in women’s ODIs, joined the party as she removed No 3 Javeria Khan in the fifth over.
Ekta Bisht then got the wickets of Sidra Nawaz and Iram Javed in a span of 10 balls to leave Pakistan reeling at 20/4 after 10 overs.
Pakistan had lost half their side in the 14th over when Deepti Sharma beat the defence of Nain Abidi and the ball crashed onto the stumps.
Mansi Joshi, the medium pacer who replaced all-rounder Shikha Pandey, sent back Asmavia Iqbal for a duck. The right-hander was given not out by the on-field umpire but Indian captain Mithali Raj opted for the Decision Review System (DRS). Replays showed a faint edge off the bat of Asmavia and Pakistan lost their sixth wicket.