Deepti Sharma stars as India bowl out Pakistan for 108 in women's Asia Cup

NEW DELHI: India's experienced off-spinner Deepti Sharma led a strong bowling performance, taking 3 wickets for 20 runs, as the defending champions dismissed their arch-rivals Pakistan for a meager 108 in the opening match of the Women's Asia Cup in Dambulla, Sri Lanka on Friday.

Pakistan, who were put in to bat first, lost their first wicket in the second over when pacer Pooja Vastrakar, who finished with figures of 2/31, had Gull Feroza caught by captain Harmanpreet Kaur at mid-on, reported PTI.

Vastrakar struck again shortly after, removing the other Pakistan opener Muneeba Ali with a short delivery that was caught by Jemimah Rodrigues at cover, leaving Pakistan at 26 for 2 after four overs.

Off-spinner Shyreyanka Patil, who took 2 wickets for 14 runs, then dismissed Aliya Riaz, caught by Rodrigues at mid-wicket, as the Pakistani batters struggled to build partnerships and score runs against the Indian bowlers.

Pakistan captain Nida Dar was the next to fall, caught by Dayalan Hemalatha at long-on off Deepti's bowling, as she attempted her signature big hit over the straight boundary.

Pacer Renuka Singh, who finished with figures of 2/14, then struck twice in her final two deliveries, dismissing Sidra Amin for 25 and trapping Iram Javed leg before, reducing Pakistan to 61 for 6 in 13 overs.

Tuba Hassan and Fatima Sana put together a crucial 31-run partnership for the seventh wicket, taking Pakistan forward, before Hassan was caught by Radha Yadav at backward point off Deepti in the 18th over.

Deepti's 18th over saw three wickets fall, with Hassan and Nashra Sandhu falling to her, while Syeda Aroob Shah was run out, denying Deepti a hat-trick opportunity. Sana hit left-arm spinner Radha for two sixes in the 19th over, helping Pakistan surpass the 100-run mark.