INDIAN WOMEN POUND PAKISTAN TO WIN ASIA CUP
Bangkok, Dec. 4: Indian women maintained their supremacy in the Asia Cup by beating arch-rivals Pakistan for their sixth title in as many editions here on Sunday.
Veteran Mithali Raj, who was removed as T20 captain before the start of the tournament, made a statement with an unbeaten 73 to guide India to 121 for five in 20 overs.
The bowlers then bowled brilliantly to limit Pakistan to 104 for 6, completing a comprehensive 17-run win. The star with ball once against was leftarm spinner Ekta Bisht, who took two wickets conceding 22 runs in her four overs.
It was the second time that India got the better of Pakistan in the competition, having beaten them by 5 wickets in the league stage besides remaining unbeaten in five games en route to the final.
Recently, the ICC had docked them six points for not playing Pakistan.
With the memorable win, India also managed to maintain their enviable record in the continental event, having won all the six editions to have taken place so far.
However, the first four editions starting from 2004 were played in the 50 over format and the following two have been in the shortest format.
The champion team could not have repeated the feat if it was not for the superlative efforts from Mithali and Ekta.
Mithali was instrumental in the team’s resounding success, amassing 220 runs in four innings to end as the tournament’s highest run scorer in the competition by some distance. Second in the list was Pakistan’s Javeria Khan with 128 runs in six innings.
Mithali kept calm in both tense games against Pakistan to help the team’s cause. Her 73 not out in the final was her highest score in the tournament and came in quick time at the top of the order. She ended with a strike rate of 112, smashing seven fours and a six.
It was also an occasion where the veteran made amends for her slow batting during World T20 where India lost to archrivals. With her showing, the 34-year-old displayed she still has a lot to offer in the T20 format. — PTI