In a stunning turn of events during the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, Pakistan faced a catastrophic batting collapse against India, resulting in their lowest-ever total in T20 International cricket. The match, held in Dubai on Saturday, saw Pakistan bowled out for a mere 55 runs, a stark contrast to their hopes of setting a competitive score.
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first, aiming to establish pressure early in the match. However, their innings quickly spiraled downward after a promising start, as they lost six wickets for just eight runs, collapsing from 27 without loss to 35 for 6 in a matter of overs. This dramatic downfall highlighted the effectiveness of India’s spin attack, which proved too challenging for the Pakistani batswomen to handle.
The 55 all out not only marks a new low for Pakistan in Women’s T20Is, surpassing their previous record of 56 runs set against New Zealand in Dubai in 2024, but it also ranks as the fifth-lowest total ever conceded by India in Women’s T20I history. Only two Pakistani players managed to reach double figures, with Muneeba Ali scoring 13 runs and Shawaal Zulfiqar contributing 14 runs.
The collapse began when Muneeba, who had survived a couple of early chances, was dismissed by Shafali Verma. Following this, Sree Charani struck twice in the final over of the powerplay, which marked the beginning of Pakistan's downfall. The Indian bowlers, particularly the spinners, exploited the situation effectively, leading to a series of wickets that left Pakistan reeling.
Charani delivered an impressive performance, finishing with figures of 3 wickets for just 7 runs, while Prema Rawat also claimed three wickets, conceding only 9 runs. Deepti Sharma contributed with two wickets for 5 runs, and Shafali Verma added another to her tally. The Indian bowling unit's relentless pressure ensured that Pakistan could not form any significant partnerships, ultimately leading to their innings ending at 55 runs in just 18.1 overs.
Following the match, Charani credited her success to a straightforward approach, stating, "Just (trying) to bowl to my strength, and coaches are telling all bowlers, spinners especially, to bowl to strength and give more revs on the ball." She emphasized the importance of consistency and accuracy in her bowling, particularly with her arm ball and yorkers.
This match was particularly significant for Pakistan, as it marked their 200th T20I appearance. Instead of celebrating this milestone with a strong performance, they recorded an unwanted statistic that will likely overshadow the occasion. Previously, their lowest all-out totals included 60 against England in 2009, 63 against India in 2012, and 65 against the West Indies in 2011.
For India, this victory further solidifies their dominance over Pakistan in T20I cricket, having won nine of their last ten encounters, with the only loss occurring during the 2022 Asia Cup. Additionally, the match was notable for Harmanpreet Kaur, who captained her 150th T20I match, becoming the first cricketer, male or female, to achieve this landmark.
Leave a Comment