India needed 41 runs from the last four overs but Jemimah Rodrigues (53no off 38) and Richa Ghosh (31no off 20) help seal a seven-wicket win with an over to spare; Sri Lanka also defeat Bangladesh by seven wickets to continue unbeaten start
Monday 13 February 2023 10:17, UK
Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh helped India make a winning start to the Women's T20 World Cup after a tense contest against Pakistan at Cape Town.
Needing 41 from the last four overs, this Group B match between the neighbouring countries was on a knife edge but Rodrigues and Ghosh profited from some wayward bowling and several fielding mistakes.
Ghosh clattered three-successive fours off Aiman Anwer to swing the pendulum towards India, while Rodrigues sealed a seven-wicket win with an over to spare by driving Fatima Sana for her eighth four.
That took Rodrigues past her half-century as she finished unbeaten on 53 from 38 balls while 19-year-old Ghosh contributed 31 off 20 deliveries in an unbroken 58-run stand.
Radha Yadav had earlier taken 2-21 as Pakistan were restricted to 149-4 after winning the toss, with captain Bismah Maroof anchoring the innings as she finished on 68 not out from 55 balls.
Ayesha Naseem clattered two fours and two sixes in her unbeaten 43 from 25 balls in an unbroken 81-run stand that added some late impetus but their total ultimately proved insufficient.
In Sunday's other game, Harshitha Samarawickrama hit an unbeaten 69 as Sri Lanka backed up their opening-game win over South Africa by beating Bangladesh by seven wickets.
Sri Lanka restricted Bangladesh to just 126-8 off their 20 overs, with Oshadi Ranasinghe (3-23) the pick of the bowlers.
Marufa Akter gave Bangladesh hope with three early wickets, including two in two balls that left Sri Lanka 25-3, but Samarawickrama and Nilkashi Silva put on an unbeaten 104-run partnership to take Sri Lanka to victory with 10 balls remaining.
It's now two wins in two for Sri Lanka while Bangladesh are still looking for their first points.
Both India and Pakistan are next in action on Wednesday. India are taking on West Indies at 1pm before Pakistan face Ireland at 5pm.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will play world champions Australia on Thursday while Bangladesh will be looking for their first win of the tournament against New Zealand on Friday.
The competition continues on Monday with Ireland against England (1pm) before hosts South Africa take on New Zealand (5pm), all live on Sky Sports Cricket.
