Kaur leads India to victory in Women's T20 World Cup

Dubai, Oct. 7: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur produced a steely 29 to steer her side to a scrappy six-wicket victory over Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday.

Set 106 to win after restricting Pakistan to 105-8 in their 20 overs, India were looking comfortable at 61-1. But two wickets in two balls by Pakistan captain Fatima Sana opened the door before Kaur took her side to the brink of victory.

With India two runs short, however, she slipped and appeared to rick her neck, leaving the field unbeaten on 29 from 24 balls.

Sajeevan Sajana hit the winning runs from the next delivery as India closed on 108-4, winning with seven balls to spare.

"We have been very disciplined, followed the plans," said India's Smriti Mandhana. "In the field we were very good. Better start with the bat would have been good, but we will take that win."

Nida Dar top-scored for Pakistan with 28 from 34 balls but there was little else to cheer after Fatima had won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that produced some awkward bounce.

"We were not up to the mark in the batting. We were 10-15 runs short," said Fatima. All of the Indian bowlers contributed with Arundhati Reddy the most succesful as she removed Omaima Sohail (3) and Aliya Riaz (4) in the middle order before clean bowling Dar in the final over to finish with 3-19 from her four overs.

"I've worked a lot on my T20 bowling in all stages of the innings. I'm still working hard now. I kept it simple and attacked the stumps," said Reddy who was named Player of the Match.

India lost Mandhana for seven but Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues took them to 61 before the second wicket fell in the 12th over.

Verma, their impressive 20-year-old opener, struck three fours in a 35-ball 32 before holing out to mid-on.

That gave Pakistan a sniff of a chance but Kaur made sure India made it 13 wins from 16 against Pakistan in T20Is. After losing their opening match to New Zealand, this was a much-needed win for India in Group A. They remain fourth in the group, with Pakistan just ahead of them on net run rate.

India face Sri Lanka in the next game in Dubai on Wednesday while Pakistan meet favourites Australia on Friday.

On Saturday, Defending champions Australia and fellow heavyweights England enjoyed winning starts at the Women's T20 World Cup on Saturday, shrugging off the crushing heat and humidity of Sharjah.

Australia began their title defence with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka before England saw off Bangladesh by 21 runs.

Megan Schutt equalled the highest wickets for a bowler in Women's T20 World Cup history when the pace bowler returned figures of 3-12 to move level with former South African quick Shabnim Ismail on 43 wickets.

Schutt's efforts kept Sri Lanka down to 93-7, a total the Australian batters overhauled with 34 balls to spare after losing four wickets.

Opener Beth Mooney, player of the tournament in the 2023 edition, hit an unbeaten 43, taking regular drink breaks to beat the heat.

Australia, playing their first match since the retirement of four-time winning captain Meg Lanning, remain favourites for a seventh title in the tournament.

Meanwhile, spinners Linsey Smith and Charlie Dean took two wickets each as England defeated Bangladesh.

England's strategy to play four spinners paid dividends as the 2009 champions restricted Bangladesh to 97-7 to defend their lowest total in T20 World Cups.

England had made 118-7, riding on a 40-ball 41 by opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge who was voted player of the match.

Middle-order batter Sobhana Mostary played a lone hand for Bangladesh, making 44 off 48 balls, including a huge six off Dean over deep square leg. (AFP)