A high-scoring match, maximum pressure and a form that has been wavering for a while. But none of it affected Jemimah Rodrigues. She heard no noise, spoke to herself and showcased nerves of steel as she helped India thump Pakistan by seven wickets in their Women's T20 World Cup opener on Sunday. This was India's highest-ever successful chase in T20 cricket.
At the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, India and Pakistan played out a contest befitting the hype surrounding it. In a face-off highlighted by youth power on either side and the experience of Pakistan skipper Bismah Maroof, India chased down a highly competitive target of 150 with six balls to spare.
1/10:Women's T20 World Cup: Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh lead India to win over Pakistan
2/10:Rodrigues-Ghosh star in India's victory
<p>Jemimah Rodrigues and teenager Richa Ghosh took India to a seven-wicket win over Pakistan in their Women's T20 World Cup match in Cape Town on Sunday.<br /></p>AFP
3/10:India record their highest successful chase
<p>India chased down a 150-run target to record the highest successful chase and second of all time in the history of the Women's T20 World Cup.<br /></p>AFP
4/10:Rodrigues-Ghosh put on an unbeaten 58-run stand
<p>What had been a tense run chase turned into a comfortable win with an over to spare as Rodrigues and Ghosh put on an unbeaten 58 off 33 balls.<br /></p>AFP
5/10:Contrasting knocks by Rodrigues and Ghosh
<p>Rodrigues batted with calm skill to make 53 not out off 38 balls while Ghosh, 19, hit powerfully to score 31 not out off 20 balls.<br /></p>AFP
6/10:Pakistan post 149 for four
<p>Pakistan posted 149 for four after deciding to bat on a dry pitch. It was a total which looked unlikely when they were labouring at 68 for four in the 13th over.<br /></p>ANI
7/10:Fine partnership between Bismah and Ayesha
<p>But captain Bismah Maroof (68 not out) and Ayesha Naseem (43 not out) transformed the innings in an unbeaten partnership of 81 off 47 balls.<br /></p>AFP
8/10:Bismah hits a fine fifty
<p>The left-handed Bismah Maroof faced 55 balls and hit seven fours while the 18-year-old Naseem hammered her runs off 25 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes.<br /></p>Getty Images
9/10:'Attacking' Naseem hits some lusty blows
<p>Naseem almost immediately went on the attack with some powerful hitting, including a six beyond long-off in an over from the medium-paced Renuka Singh which cost 18 runs.<br /></p>AFP
10/10:Fine bowling by Nashra Sadhu
<p>The Indian innings followed a similar pattern with Pakistan left-arm spinner Nashra Sadhu bowling superbly to take two for 15 in her four overs.<br /></p>AFPWhile Player of the Match Jemimah anchored the chase with her unconquered 38-ball-53 (8x4), the U-19 World Cup-winning team duo of Shafali Verma (33; 25b; 4x4) and Richa Ghosh (31 n. o; 20b; 5x4) played key roles. Although there were a few hiccups and the run rate touched 10 an over at one stage, India were always in the chase, especially with wickets in hand. Pakistan were undone by some below-average fielding and lack of bowling options in the death overs.
Yastika Bhatia (17) and Shafali got India off to a good start but the team was pegged back by left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu (2/15). With skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (16) back in the dugout in the 14th over, Jemimah shouldered the responsibility of seeing the team through some innovative hitting.
Earlier, given the conditions, both teams went for spin-heavy playing XIs. Pakistan opted to bat and their star of the day was Ayesha Naseem (43 n. o; 25b; 2x4; 2x6), who stole the limelight from their inform skipper Bismah, who top-scored with a 55-ball 68 (7x4).
The 18-year-old Ayesha was a heady combination of head, heart and guts. Coming into to bat with her team at 68/4 in 12.1 overs, she accelerated from the fourth delivery she faced, picking Pooja Vastrakar for her first boundary, a drive over mid-off. She was quiet against left-arm spinner Radha but flexed her muscles against pace, smashing Renuka Singh for a six over long-on. The teenager followed it up with a sweetly-timed lofted drive to the boundary, which unnerved the bowler. A delivery after Radha dropped her in the final over, she was dropped again by Harleen Deol as the lofted shot went over the ropes. Radha (2/21) was the pick of the Indian bowlers.
QUESTIONABLE UMPIRING
The umpiring wasn't of top-notch quality, but what was shocking was that an extra delivery bowled by seasoned Nida Dar in the seventh over went unnoticed.
Incidentally, Rodrigues dispatched the ball to the ropes.
