Published: June 15, 2026 at 12:17 pm
An off-spin masterclass by Deepti Sharma helped India to a morale-boosting 64-run win over Pakistan in Birmingham in their Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 opener even as Bangladesh began their campaign with a six-wicket win over the Netherlands.
After Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh’s batting heroics helped India to a competitive 170 for 6, Sharma claimed a five-wicket haul to dismiss Pakistan for 106 in 17 overs.
Sharma’s 5 for 10 against Pakistan are the best bowling figures in a women’s T20I. During the match, she also became the highest wicket-taker in women’s T20Is, taking her tally to 166.
It was a frantic start for India, who elected to bat first. Shafali Verma launched the innings with a big hit over the long-off boundary. But the team was guilty of going for too much too soon. Shafali fell in the first over, as she edged a Sadia Iqbal delivery to wicketkeeper Muneeba Ali. India slipped to 18 for 2 after Jemimah Rodrigues ended up skying the ball while attempting to sweep Tasmia Rubab.
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With the chips down, two of India’s stalwarts, Smriti and Harmanpreet Kaur came to the rescue. While Smriti had already found her rhythm, punishing every ball even fractionally straying down the leg side, the captain used the safety-first approach.
After a watchful start, India shifted gears in the 11th over, accumulating 30 runs in two overs. Both Harmanpreet and Smriti used their feet well against the spinners and stitched a 91-run partnership for the third wicket.
Smriti was dropped twice and the southpaw made Pakistan pay as she struck nine fours and two sixes. During the innings of 68 off 44, Smriti carved out some delectable inside-out drives and mixed in some power hits.
Captain Fatima Sana finally held on to a catch at the boundary after another lofted drive from Smriti, off Rameen Shamim, to get a toe in the door. With Bharti Fulmali and Harmanpreet following in quick succession, India went from 109 for 3 to 123 for 5.
Deepti Sharma took five for 10 to bowl out Pakistan for 106
Ghosh proved she is one of the best finishers in the world as she notched 34 in just 17 balls. In the 19th over, she got stuck into Tasmia Rubab, hitting three fours and a six to help India score 23 runs. Ghosh and Deepti Sharma’s (12) late heroics took India to 170.
For most part, Pakistan had been able to restrain the Indian batters, but the bursts of acceleration took the game away. Their leading bowlers, Sana and Iqbal, finished with two wickets each.
Deepti and Sree Charani spin Pakistan out
Chasing a big total, openers Muneeba Ali and Gull Feroza began positively, putting on 38 runs for the first wicket. But Deepti’s introduction in the fifth over was the beginning of the end for Pakistan. The off-spinner struck in the very first over. Feroza attempted a reverse sweep off her, but ended up lofting the ball straight to Fulmali at backward point. In the next over, she sent back Ayesha Zafar, who was playing her first T20 World Cup game in eight years.
It was the Indian spinners who did most of the damage, taking nine wickets on the day and starving Pakistan of runs. Sree Charani claimed 3 for 21 while Shafali contributed with the wicket of Sana.
For Pakistan, the only bright spot was a well-paced 41 off 35 by Muneeba Ali. Deepti was the one who ended her run as well, nailing a direct hit to run her out to trigger a Pakistan collapse from 75 for 4 to 106 all out.
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Fittingly, it was Deepti who put the finishing touches on the Indian victory. Her clever changes of pace had set the template for Indian spinners. And she cleaned up the Pakistan lower order, claiming three wickets in the 17th over to end the Pakistan challenge.
Brief scores: India 170 for six in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 68, Harmanpreet Kaur 36, Risha Ghosh 34; Sadiq Iqbal 2/41, Fatima Sana 2/33) beat Pakistan 106 in 17 overs (Muneeba Ali 41; Deepti Sharma 5/10, Sree Charani 3/21).
Bangladesh edge debutants Netherlands
Bangladesh edged past tournament debutants Netherlands in their opening Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash at Edgbaston on Sunday. After a solid bowling performance restricted the Dutch to 139/8, Bangladesh overcame a mid-innings stumble to chase down the target in 19.1 overs. It was their highest successful run chase in Women’s T20 World Cups.
Playing their first women’s World Cup in any format, the Netherlands boldly chose to bat after winning the toss. However, the nerves kicked in out on the pitch. With Bangladesh bowlers sticking to a tight line and length, Netherlands were hemmed in. They lost both the openers inside of first five overs and Rabeya Khan castled Sterre Kalis for her 50th T20I wicket.
Juairiya Ferdous struck a half-century to help Bangladesh down the Netherlands. Pics: ICC
It was captain Babette de Leede who led the Dutch fightback. Cousin of Bas de Leede, who plays in the Netherlands men’s team, she steered them out of choppy waters with a steady 50 off 45 balls. Iris Zwilling (13 not out) and Silver Siegers (10 not out) gave the team a lift at the end, including 12 off the last over, to take them to a fighting total.
Bangladesh put in a disciplined bowling performance and each of the five bowlers picked up a wicket. Pacer Marufa Akter, who got the ball rolling by dismissing opener Phebe Molkenboer, finished with two wickets.
In reply, Bangladesh also had a jittery start. Juairiya Ferdous began her innings with a few wild swings and also survived two spilled catches. But she settled in and found her groove, unleashing seven fours and two sixes for a half-century. Her 67-run opening partnership with Dilara Akter gave Bangladesh a solid foundation.
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However, their innings was disrupted as Caroline de Lange’s claimed two wickets in two balls. The leg-spinner, who has an action similar to Afghanistan men’s player Rashid Khan, had Ferdous chop a ball straight to Molkenboer at backward point.
On the next ball, she crashed through captain Nigar Sultana’s defences. Spin sowed seeds of doubt in their minds and Dilara Akter was beaten all ends up by a brilliant delivery by Silver Siegers that straightened up. Bangladesh slipped from 67 for one to 85 for four as the experienced Sobhana Mostary was run out.
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With the team in trouble, Sharmin Akhter and Shorna Akter stepped up to the challenge. They played calmly and never let the pressure get to them. While Akhter scored 37 not out, Shorna Akter was unbeaten on 18 as they took Bangladesh past the finish line.
Shorna Akter scored the winning runs, a boundary past mid-off, as Bangladesh finished at 141 for 4 with five balls to spare.
Brief scores: Netherlands 139 for eight in 20 overs (Babette de Leede 50; Marufa Akter 2/31) lost to Bangladesh 141 for four in 19.1 overs (Juairiya Ferdous 50, Dilara Akter 26, Sharmin Akhter 37 not out; Caroline de Lange 2/27).
