India crush Pakistan for just 55 runs in Women’s Asia Cup showdown

It was a crisp evening in Dubai when India and Pakistan faced off in the final league‑stage game of the Women’s Asia Cup. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat, perhaps hoping to set a solid platform. What unfolded, however, was a dramatic collapse that left the visitors totalling a meagre 55 runs.

Opening pair Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar began cautiously, managing a 27‑run partnership before the Indian bowlers found their rhythm. The turning point arrived when Shree Charani, spinning a tight line, grabbed two wickets in the very next over – Gull Feroza was caught behind for a golden duck and Zulfiqar fell lbw for just 14.

Prema Rawat joined the on‑field fireworks, ripping through the middle order with the same ferocity. By the end of the sixth over Pakistan were 29 for 3. The spin on offer was simply relentless; Charani’s third wicket came in the eighth over, sending Ayesha Zafar back to the pavilion.

What followed was a slow‑burning demolition. Deepti Sharma added another scalp, this time dismissing skipper Fatima Sana for a seven‑ball duck. Pakistan slumped to 35 for 6, and the pressure kept mounting. A run‑out of Eyman Fatima and the steady stream of wickets from Rawat – who claimed two more victims – saw the score inching ever closer to the inevitable.

When the 16.3‑over mark arrived, the scoreboard read 54 for 9. The final wicket, a tidy catch taken by Deepti Sharma off the last remaining bowler, gave India a tidy 3 for 7 and 3 for 9 from Charani and Rawat respectively. Pakistan were bowled out for 55 in 18.1 overs – a total that would have been respectable in a schoolyard match, let alone a continental tournament.

Charani’s figures of 3/7 and Rawat’s 3/9 will be remembered for weeks to come. Their four‑over spells were compact, incisive, and utterly devastating. Between them, they claimed six of the ten wickets, while Deepti Sharma and Shafali Varma chipped in the remaining dismissals.

Beyond the numbers, the performance hinted at a deeper story – a blend of skill, discipline and the kind of aggressive intent that could carry India deep into the knockout stages. For Pakistan, it’s a lesson in handling spin under pressure, and a reminder that every run counts when the opposition is firing on all cylinders.

The match, though brief, was a showcase of the growing competitiveness in women’s cricket across Asia. Fans left the stadium buzzing, and the Indian camp celebrated a well‑earned victory that could very well be a springboard for the rest of the tournament.