ICC Women's cricket World Cup: India decimate Pakistan by 95 runs

Derby (UK): Left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht picked up a five-wicket haul as India defeated arch rivals Pakistan by 95 runs in a group match of the Women's cricket World Cup at the County Ground here on Sunday.

Electing to bat first, India produced 169/9. In reply, Pakistan were bundled out for 74 runs with Bisht doing most of the damage with figures of 5/18.

This was the third consecutive victory in this tournament for India. They had defeated hosts England by 35 runs in the opening match of their campaign before thrashing the West Indies by seven wickets.

Indian skipper Mithali Raj used her bowling changes well as the bowlers clinched breakthroughs at regular intervals. Bisht maitained a tight length which did not allow the Pakistan batters to open up their arms and score easily.

Medium-pacer Mansi Joshi also bowled economically, clinching two wickets while giving away just nine runs in her 6.1 overs. Chasing a low-target of 170 runs, Pakistan failed to get going right from the start.

Pakistan skipper Sana Mir also waged a heroic battle and was the highest scorer with 29 runs in an excruciatingly slow 73-ball innings.

The Indian eves started on a bad note as opener Smriti Mandhana (2) was sent back to the pavilion in the fourth over by Nashra Sandhu with just seven runs on the board.

New batswoman Mithali Raj (8) then arrived at the middle but failed to step up. After adding 19 runs with Deepti, Mithali was also dismissed by Sandhu in the 27th over. Deepti, who seemed good at the crease, then felt the pressure at the other end and was sent packing in the same over by Sandhu.

With the scoreboard reading 94/4 in 27 overs, middle-order batswomen Harmanpreet Kaur (10) and Mona Meshram (6) also disappointed as they both fell prey to Sadia Yousuf inside three overs.

Lower-order players Sushma Verma (33) and Jhulan Goswami (14) tried to hold the innings together, but Sandhu wrapped up Goswami in the 47th over. Verma was also dismissed in the next over by Asmavia Iqbal.

Brief scores: India 169/9 in 50 overs (Punam Raut 47, Deepti Sharma 28; Nashra Sandhu 4/26) vs Pakistan 74 in 38.1 overs (Nahida Khan 23, San Mir 29, Ekta Bisht 5/18, Mansi Joshi 2/9).