[Watch] Smriti Mandhana perishes for just 7 runs off 16 deliveries after a soft dismissal in IND vs PAK 2024 Women's T20 World Cup
Team India opening batter Smriti Mandhana departed after scoring only seven runs off 16 deliveries in the run chase against Pakistan during the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup Group A encounter on Sunday, October 6. The left-handed batter has kickstarted the campaign on a poor note with two disappointing outings at the Dubai International Stadium.
India were handed a target of 106 runs after a tight bowling performance. The opening duo of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma needed runs as a pair, with a string of poor partnerships in the recent past. The Pakistan bowlers kept things tight with the new ball, conceding only 18 runs off the first four overs.
In the fifth over bowled by Sadia Iqbal, the left-handed batter tried to play an uppish stroke through the covers, but could only make contact with the outside half of her bat. She could not keep the ball down, and ended up chipping it to Tuba Hassan at point. Have a look at the dismissal here:
Smriti Mandhana failed to score a single boundary in her sluggish stay at the crease. She was not in the best of forms in the warm-up clashes or the 2024 Hundred campaign for the Southern Brave before coming into the tournament.
Jemimah Rodrigues comes in at No. 3 in yet another shuffle after Smriti Mandhana's dismissal
Team India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's run at No. 3 has seemingly ended after just a solitary game, as Jemimah Rodrigues came out to bat following the early wicket of Mandhana. The right-handed batter has joined forces with Shafali Verma to repair the innings and build a foundation in the tricky run chase.
Harmanpreet Kaur had copped a lot of blame for her lackluster outing after promoting herself in the batting order. The skipper scored 15 runs off 14 deliveries before being dismissed by Rosemary Mair in the forgettable opening contest against New Zealand.
At the time of writing, India were 42-1 after nine overs. They need 64 runs off 66 deliveries as the innings heads into the second half.