Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma power India to dominant win over Pakistan in T20 World Cup opener

Questions over the form of opener Smriti Mandhana and spinner Deepti Sharma had lingered over India's preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup. On Sunday at the Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham, the experienced duo provided emphatic answers.

Smriti's fluent 44-ball 68 laid the platform for India's commanding 64-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan, before Deepti's guile and precision dismantled the chase as she returned career-best figures of 5/10 in the Group I campaign opener.

In the process, Deepti also became the leading wicket-taker in women's T20 internationals, taking her tally to 166 wickets.Opting to bat, India recovered from an early wobble to post a competitive 170/6, built around Smriti's half-century and a late flourish from Richa Ghosh, whose unbeaten 17-ball 34, studded with five boundaries and a six, injected crucial momentum into the innings.

Pakistan began their chase steadily but found themselves trapped in India's spin web. Deepti led the charge, with Shree Charani (3/21), Shafali Verma and Shreyanka Patil providing excellent support as Pakistan were bundled out for 106.Pakistan’s innings began to unravel in the fifth over when Gull Feroza misjudged the bounce while attempting a reverse sweep off Deepti and offered a catch to Bharti Fulmali. India tightened their grip in the 12th over when Deepti affected the run-out of the well-set Muneeba Ali (41), leaving Pakistan precariously placed at 74/4.

The off-spinner then wrapped up the contest in the 17th over claiming the final three wickets in the space of five deliveries. Earlier, Smriti assumed control of the rebuilding job, piercing gaps with ease and finding the boundary regularly to calm early nerves. Pakistan's fielding did little to ease the pressure, with Smriti reprieved twice on 27 and 55. Smriti brought up her half-century in style in 34 deliveries.Brief scores: India 170/6 (S Mandhana 68, R Ghosh 34) beat Pakistan 106 all out in 17 overs (M Ali 41, Deepti Sharma 5/10)