KUALA LAMPUR: Sonam Yadav’s four-wicket haul led India to a dominant nine-wicket win over Pakistan in the second match of the ACC U-19 Women’s Asian Cup here at the Bayuemas Cricket Oval on Sunday.
Pakistan captain Zoofishan Ayyaz’s decision to bat first backfired as the Green Shirts could only manage 67/7 in the allotted 20 overs despite batsman Komal Khan’s gutsy knock.
Komal remained Pakistan’s top run-scorer, with a cautious 24 off 32 deliveries, with four boundaries.
She oversaw Pakistan’s batting expedition until Mithila Vinod held her weight in the ninth over.
His dismissal sparked a meltdown, which saw the Green Shirts lose wickets at an alarming rate and subsequently disrupt the team’s scoring rate.
Apart from Komal, Fatima Khan was the only other Pakistani batswoman to accumulate double figures while the rest struggled against the Indian bowling attack led by Sonam.
Sonam returned astonishing figures of 4/6 in her four overs, while Mithila, Parunika Sisodia and VJ Joshitha contributed one wicket each.
In response, India comfortably chased down the modest target of 68 runs, losing just one wicket and 73 balls to spare, thanks to a quick knock from opener G Kamilini.
India, however, had a contrasting start to their innings as Fatima Khan had Gongadi Trisha (0) caught and bowled on just the second delivery of the chase.
After the opening blow, Sanika Chalke joined Kamilini in the middle and together they anchored the chase.
The duo recorded a match-winning partnership of 68 runs, led mainly by Kamilini, who top-scored with 44 off 29 balls, studded with four fours and three sixes. Chalke, on the other hand, made an unbeaten 19 off 17 deliveries.
For the winning strike, Kamilini was named the best player of the match.
After a disappointing start to the 2024 U-19 Women’s Asian Cup campaign, Pakistan will face Nepal in their second match of the tournament on Monday.
