What's happened
India has started the Women’s T20 World Cup with a 64-run win over Pakistan in Birmingham. Smriti Mandhana hit 68 before Deepti Sharma’s 5-10 sealed victory as Harmanpreet Kaur’s side set Pakistan 171 to win. Bangladesh also chased down Netherlands on the same pitch.
What's behind the headline?
The Analysis
- India demonstrates depth beyond Mandhana, with Sharma’s five-wicket burst changing the course of the game.
- The contrast between India’s clinical bowling in the middle overs and Pakistan’s trouble handling spin is a key takeaway.
- Bangladesh’s nerve in a tight chase on a familiar ground signals a competitive Group B dynamic, with spinners Silver and de Lange proving pivotal for the Dutch.
- This opening weekend underlines India’s intent to convert last year’s ODI World Cup momentum into T20 success, while Pakistan faces structural questions in the shortest format.
Forecast: India is likely to press home advantages in upcoming group games, while Bangladesh’s momentum will depend on converting early innings starts into bigger totals.
How we got here
The two matches at Edgbaston and Birmingham mark the opening stage of a packed World Cup schedule. India’s win follows a dominant performance by Deepti Sharma, whose all-round show reinforces India’s title ambitions. Bangladesh’s late chase highlights the unpredictability of the tournament.
Our analysis
AP News, The Guardian, AP News, AP News
Go deeper
- How will India adapt if opposing teams target Sharma’s bowling?
- Can Bangladesh sustain its chase form against tougher opposition?
- What does this say about spin bowling’s role in this World Cup?
More on these topics
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Harmanpreet Kaur - Indian cricketer
Harmanpreet Kaur is an Indian cricketer who serves as the captain of the Indian team in T20Is. She plays as an all-rounder for the Indian women's cricket team and was awarded the Arjuna Award for Cricket in the year 2017 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs a
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India - Country in South Asia
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the second-most populous country, the seventh-largest country by land area, and the most populous democracy in the world.
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Beth Mooney - Australian cricketer
Bethany Louise Mooney is an Australian cricketer who plays for the national cricket team as a batter in all three formats of the game. At domestic level, she plays as a wicket-keeper-batter for Queensland Fire, and, since 2020, Perth Scorchers.
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Georgia Voll - Australian cricketer
Georgia Voll is an Australian cricketer who plays as a right-handed batter and occasional right-arm off break bowler for the Queensland Fire in the Women's National Cricket League and the Brisbane Heat in the Women's Big Bash League.
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Australia - Country in Oceania
Australia, officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands.
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Smriti Mandhana - Indian cricketer
Smriti Shriniwas Mandhana is an Indian cricketer who plays for the Indian women's national team. In June 2018, the Board of Control for Cricket in India named her as the Best Women's International Cricketer.
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Pakistan - Country in South Asia
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country with a population exceeding 212.2 million. It is the 33rd-largest country by area, spanning 881,913 square kilometres.
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Deepti Sharma - Cricketer
Deepti Bhagwan Sharma is an international cricketer who plays for the Indian women's national cricket team. She is an all-rounder who bats left-handed and bowls right-arm off break and is currently ranked 4th in the top all-rounders in the ICC Cricket Ran