Spinners Shree Charani and Prema Rawat took three wickets each to bowl Pakistan out for a record-low 55 runs on Saturday, setting up a comfortable seven-wicket victory for India in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026. The crucial Group A match took place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The Indian bowlers dismantled the Pakistan batting line-up in just 18.1 overs on a fresh wicket. India chased down the small target of 56 runs in 8.4 overs. They secured the top position in their group and their place in the semi-finals.
Spinners Dismantle Pakistan Batting
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and chose to bat. Openers Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar scored 27 runs without loss in the first four overs against the Indian fast bowlers. Muneeba scored 13 runs off 15 balls, and Shawaal made 14 runs off 14 balls.
Shafali Verma broke the opening partnership in the fifth over when she bowled Muneeba Ali. 22-year-old left-arm spinner Shree Charani dismissed Gull Feroza for a duck, as Feroza hit a catch to short third. In the same over, Charani trapped Shawaal Zulfiqar leg-before-wicket.
Pakistan lost six wickets for the addition of only nine runs. They scored just 36 runs for six wickets in the space of just five overs.
Prema Rawat, the 24-year-old leg-spinner, dismissed Sadaf Shamas for three runs. Rawat took 3 wickets for nine runs in her four overs. Shree Charani took 3 wickets for seven runs from her four overs.
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Pakistan Recorded Lowest Total Ever
Off-spinner Deepti Sharma took two wickets for just five runs in her 3.1 overs. Sharma trapped Pakistan captain Fatima Sana leg-before-wicket for a duck with a sharp off-break.
Eyman Fatima, who scored five runs, lost her wicket when a horrible mix-up with partner Umm-e-Hani led to a run-out at the non-striker’s end. Umm-e-Hani herself made six runs before she lost her wicket.
Pakistan eventually slumped to 55 all out in 18.1 overs. This score of 55 represents Pakistan’s lowest-ever total in Women’s T20 International cricket. They previously scored their lowest total of 56 runs against New Zealand in Dubai in 2024.
India Chase Target Despite Quick Wickets
India lost early wickets in their chase. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana took two wickets in her first over, dismissing Shafali Verma for 12 runs and then dismissing Pratika Rawal for four runs. In her next over, Sana trapped Smriti Mandhana leg-before-wicket for nine runs. Sana’s three-wicket reduced India to 29 runs for three wickets.
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored an unbeaten 18 runs off 18 balls, and Deepti Sharma made 12 not out off 14 balls. Kaur ended the match in style in the ninth over. India reached 57 runs for the loss of three wickets in 8.4 overs to win by seven wickets with 68 balls to spare. This win represents India’s fourth-biggest victory margin in T20 Internationals by balls remaining, and Pakistan’s second-biggest defeat in the format.
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Post-Match Statements
After the match, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her delight. She praised her bowlers for reading the pitch well and executing their plans perfectly. Match organisers named Shree Charani as the Player of the Match. Charani said she wanted to continue her good work and focus on bowling to her strengths. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana admitted that her team suffered a severe batting collapse and struggled throughout their innings.
While India will carry an unbeaten run into the semi-finals, Pakistan must now win their final group match against Hong Kong, China to secure their place in the next round of the tournament.
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