Smriti Mandhana opened the innings with Shafali Verma in the match against Pakistan.
India 4/1 in 3 overs outside! Terrible shot-making by Shafali, which cost a wild swing across the line, allowing Diana Baig to claim the leg stump with a full and angling ball into the right-hander. The seamer deserves some credit as she builds up the pressure with a five-dot delivery. Certainly not the start India was looking for.
It’s an ugly slog and Shafali has lost her leg-stump, look at Pakistani girls – they are absolutely pumped. But it is a scary shot from Shafali – full and angling in the right hand, her legs didn’t move as she aimed a massive grass cut across the line, missed it perfectly and her leg-stump flattened to the ground Done. Shafali Verma b Diana Baig 0(6)
India 3/0 in 1 over Interesting over from Diana, which kept Mandhana guessing by swinging the ball from both sides. However, the right-arm pacer seemed inconsistent with the full toss twice in the over. Luckily Mandhana could not take advantage of them. Left-arm spinner Anam Amin will bowl from the front end and Mandhana will be on strike again.
6:27 am IST Indian opener reminiscence And Shafali Verma is out to bat with the former to face the new ball bowled by fast bowler Diana Baig.
6:17 AM IST According to experts, this is a good batting line-up and will help the spinners later. It is the same pitch that hosted the first match and scored over 500 runs – in the game between hosts New Zealand and West Indies. And as far as the weather is concerned, it is a clear day with no cloudy spots.
6:10 am IST On the other hand, Pakistan skipper Bismah Maroof said that losing the toss was good as they wanted to bowl first as they are going into the game with five bowlers and are in good form in the tournament.
“We wanted to bowl earlier, now we need to restrict them. We are going into the match with five bowlers. We have good practice, so we have to keep playing like that. I am blessed to be back. Which I love, and am getting some real support from the whole team,” Maroof said.
6:08 AM IST Pakistan Women (Playing XI): Javeria Khan, Sidra Amin, Bismah Maroof (c), Omaima Sohail, Nida Dar, Alia Riaz, Fatima Sana, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Anam Amin
India Women (Playing XI): Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Mithali Raj(C), Richa Ghosh (W), Sneh Rana, Jhulan Goswami, Meghna Singh, Pooja VastrakarRajeshwari Gaikwadi
6:05 am IST Justifying their decision to bat first, Mithali said they would try to score a big total and put pressure on their neighbours.
“We will bat. It is a good wicket to bat on. Make a big score and put pressure on them. We are going with three fast bowlers and three spinners. We want to go into the tournament with a clean slate, Take some momentum from the last match we won against New Zealand. The hunger to do well in the World Cup drives me forward.”
6:00 AM IST Hello and welcome to our live blog of India Women vs Pakistan Women’s World Cup 2022 match. Starting as the favorites for the match, Mithali Raj-led India have won the toss and opted to bat first.