cricket

Updated: Dec 04, 2016 15:09 IST

Mithali Raj’s magnificent unbeaten 73 and a combined bowling effort from Jhulan Goswami, Ekta Bisht and Preeti Bose helped India win the Women’s Asia Cup T20 title against Pakistan by 17 runs in Bangkok. Thus, they successfully defended the title which they won in 2012 in Guangzhou while they secured their fourth win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Relive all highlights of India vs Pakistan here (NEWS)

India continued their dominance in the Asia Cup as they defeated Pakistan by 17 runs in Bangkok. ( Getty Images )

14:55 hrs IST: Here are some of the post match quotes

Harmanpreet Kaur, India captain: We knew it’s a turning track. We set a decent total for us and we bowled really well to defend it. I told my bowlers to bowl in the right areas and bowl dot balls.

Bismah Maroof, Pakistan captain: The score was chaseable but we gave too many runs on the field. We should have restricted them to 100.

Mithali Raj, Player of the Match and Player of the Tournament: I took my time to settle but I am enjoying it now. The pitch was not for the T20 format; it’s on the slower side, so you had to be patient and play every ball on its merit.

14:33 hrs IST: India have done it. They have successfully defended their Asia Cup title and defeat Pakistan by 17 runs. In the process, they go 4-0 up on Pakistan in Asia Cup encounters. Fantastic effort from Harmanpreet Kaur and the team. For Pakistan, it continues their heartbreak.

14:25 hrs IST: Jhulan concedes just six runs and Pakistan require 26 runs in the last over. Harmanpreet Kaur will bowl it.

14:23 hrs IST: Pakistan are not able to find the boundaries. Jhulan Goswami is in for her final over. India one step closer to the title.

14:20 hrs IST: Seven runs conceded by Ekta Bisht in the 18th over. Pakistan are 90/6, but they need 32 off 12 balls.

14:17 hrs IST: The Indian skipper leads by example. Harmanpreet Kaur gives away just one run in the 17th over. Pakistan 83/6, need 39 off 18 balls.

14:13 hrs IST: WICKET! India are closing in on victory. Ekta Bisht bowls a tossed up delivery and Iram Javed comes out of her crease, but Sushma Verma effects a Dhoni-style stumping.

Iram Javed st Sushma Verma b Ekta Bisht 3 (8), Pakistan 81/6 vs India.

14:10 hrs IST: WICKET! Preeti Bose gets Nain Abidi and that could be it for Pakistan.

Bose bowls a slow, flighted delivery and Abidi is lured out of the crease, the ball grips and spins away as Sushma Verma effects the stumping.

Nain Abidi st Sushma Verma b Preeti Bose 9 (14), Pakistan 80/5 in 15 overs

14:04 hrs IST: WICKET! Bisma Maroof falls and that could be it for Pakistan.

Anuja Patil floats a very full and flighted delivery on middle stump, Maroof looks to chip it over the bowler’s head but Patil times her leap to perfection to take the catch.

Bisma Maroof c and b Anuja Patil 25 (26), Pakistan 75/4, need 47 runs to win off 39 balls vs India (121/5)

14:02 hrs IST: Nain Abidi gets a boundary off Patil on the first ball. The contest is starting to get closer.

14:01 hrs IST: Maroof breaks the shackles with a boundary. Bose bowls a full toss and the left-hander dispatches it to the wide long on fence. Pakistan need 52 off 42 balls to win.

13:57 hrs IST: 12 overs are up, Pakistan are 63/3. They need 59 off 48 balls vs India. They are slowly crumbling against pressure.

13:55 hrs IST: Maroof holds the key for Pakistan. India are slipping in some tight overs.

India struck at regular intervals as Paksitan stumbled in the final of the Asia Cup World T20 ( Getty Images )

13:46 hrs IST: WICKET! The partnership between Maroof and Javeria is proving to be very useful. However, Ekta Bisht breaks the stand as Javeria looks to play across the line, but the ball spins away and the leading edge is taken at cover.

Javeria Khan c Harmanpreet Kaur b Ekta Bisht 22 (26), Pakistan need 66 runs off 60 balls vs India (121/5).

13:44 hrs IST: Preeti Bose is into the attack and she appeals for an LBW as Maroof misses the sweep, maybe impact outside off stump.

13:41 hrs IST: Pandey concedes 10 runs in her second over. For Pakistan, Javeria and Maroof are the key. After eight overs, Pakistan are 48/2, need 74 off 72.

13:39 hrs IST: Javeria and Bisma Maroof are slowly steadying the ship. Maroof slams a boundary off Pandey as Pakistan aim to stay afloat.

13:37 hrs IST: After seven overs, Pakistan are 37/2. On this sluggish wicket, scoring will become even more difficult as the game progresses.

13:29 hrs IST: WICKET! Dragged on and Shikha Pandey strikes in her first over.

Slightly short of a length slower ball outside off, Asmavia Iqbal looks to slash it through point but ends up dragging it back onto the stumps. Pakistan are slumping after a good start.

Asmavia Iqbal b Shikha Pandey 1 (4), Pakistan 28/2 in 5.3 overs vs India (121/5)

13:28 hrs IST: Shikha Pandey starts off from the other end. So pace at both ends. Both bowlers are getting some movement off the deck.

13:25 hrs IST: Jhulan’s dismissal of Zafar was her 50th wicket in T20s. Great effort.

13:23 hrs IST: WICKET! Horrible shot from Ayesha Zafar. Jhulan bowls it straight on a good length and on middle stump, Zafar attempts a cross-batted slog to the leg side but misses it and the stumps are clattered.

Ayesha Zafar b Jhulan Goswami 15 (14), Pakistan 24/1 (4.2), need 98 more to win vs India (121/5)

13:20 hrs IST: The sweep is yielding rich dividends. Zafar slog sweeps Patil to the deep mid wicket fence as Pakistan continue to maintain a good rate. They are 24/0 after four overs.

Jhulan Goswami will be the key for India in the final against Pakistan. ( PTI )

13:18 hrs IST: Jhulan Goswami is into the attack and she concedes five runs. She was not happy with the effort of the fielder at third man after a boundary was conceded. Pakistan making good progress.

13:11 hrs IST: Anuja Patil, the off-spinner, appeals for an LBW against Zafar but the umpire does not give it. That was probably going down the leg side. Pakistan are 13/0 after two overs.

13:09 hrs IST: Poor start for Bisht. Javeria gets off the mark by sweeping a full ball to deep backward square leg. In the fifth ball, Zafar gets going with a boundary and Pakistan have moved to 10/0 in the first over. The plan for both batters is to play the sweep shot on a regular basis.

13:05 hrs IST: Ayesha Zafar and Javeria Khan have come out to open. Ekta Bisht will open the bowling for India.

Mithali Raj scored an unbeaten 73 as India notched up their highest total in T20s against Pakistan. ( Getty Images )

12:56 hrs IST: BOOM! Another big six from Jhulan Goswami and India reach 120. However, she tries a repeat of the same shot but mistimes it to be caught at deep mid wicket. Mithali manages a single and she ends up on an unbeaten 73 as India finish on 121/5, a big total in the final.

12:49 hrs IST: Mithali now has her highest individual score in T20s. What a time to do it. Meanwhile, here is a mind-boggling statistic (Courtesy Mohandas Menon)

India's 107* is now the highest total made by either side in the nine H2H T20Is played so far! 😱#IndvPak#AsiaCupT20 2016 women's final — Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 4, 2016

12:46 hrs IST: BAM! Jhulan Goswami is one of the power-hitters in the game and she shows why. Tossed up delivery outside off, Jhulan latches on to it and whacks the slog sweep over the deep mid wicket boundary. India 104/4 in 18 overs.

12:42 hrs IST: Meanwhile, Mithali is batting like a dream. Anam drags a quicker delivery slightly short outside off, Mithali stays on the back foot and bisects the late cut past the gap between backward point and short third man for a boundary.

12:39 hrs IST: Anam Amin strikes and Harmanpreet Kaur goes. India stumbling slightly at the end.

Anam floats a quicker delivery and it skids on, Harmanpreet hangs back as she looks to work it to the on side, but the ball spins away and hits off stump, great bowling from Anam.

Harmanpreet Kaur b Anam Amin 5 (10), India 89/3 after 16.2 overs.

12:38 hrs IST: Pakistan have bowled nine extras and this will not help their cause. After 16 overs, India are 88/3. Over in Sydney, Steven Smith has smashed records as Australia have notched up 324/8 against New Zealand. Catch live scores here.

12:32 hrs IST: Harmanpreet Kaur is in now. India will be eyeing a total of 120 or more if they are to challenge Pakistan.

12:28 hrs IST: WICKET! Well bowled by Yousuf and Krishnamurthy goes. Tossed up delivery that spins away a touch, Krishnamurthy aims for the sweep but misses it and is struck in front of middle.

Veda Krishnamurthy LBW Sadia Yousuf 2 (4), India 73/3 in 13 overs.

Mithali Raj scored her 10th fifty as India made steady progress against Pakistan in Asia Cup T20 Final. ( Getty Images )

12:26 hrs IST: Mithali drives Yousuf to long off to bring up her 10th fifty. It has been a stand-out knock from Mithali and no wonder, she is the leading run-getter in this tournament. Well played.

12:22 hrs IST: WICKET! Great throw from Javeria Khan and Meghana is run-out.

Mithali taps it to square leg and calls for a quick single, Meghana responds but Javeria fires a throw to wicketkeeper Sidra Nawaz and Meghana is just short.

Sabbhineni Meghana run out (Javeria Khan/Sidra Nawaz) 9 (16), India 68/2.

12:18 hrs IST: The physio has come out with the ice pack and Mithali is getting some treatment. Maybe it is for cramps or dehydration. There is an ice pack placed at the back of her neck.

12:10 hrs IST: Nida Dar, the off-spinner is into the attack. India bring up the 50 in the 10th over. Brilliant stuff from Mithali. Dar oversteps and Mithali dispatches her to the fine leg fence. In the free-hit, it becomes worse for Pakistan as she launches it over long off for a big six. After 10 overs, India 62/1

12:07 hrs IST: Sadia Yousuf, another left-arm orthodox spinner, is into the attack. Mithali continues to bat with confidence. India 48/1 after nine overs.

12:02 hrs IST: Poor ball from Asmavia Iqbal. Full toss on middle and Mithali latches on to it by thumping the ball to the deep mid wicket fence. Next ball, she straight drives it past the bowler for another boundary to long off.

12:01 hrs IST: Pakistan have pulled things back after a poor start. India are 33/1 after seven overs.

11:56 hrs IST: Loud appeal for an LBW by Asmavia Iqbal against Meghna. However, that looked to be sliding past leg stump.

11:55 hrs IST: Mithali is looking in great touch. All three boundaries in India’s innings have come off her bat.

11:51 hrs IST: WICKET! Poor shot from Smriti Mandhana and the pressure has taken its toll. Anam tosses this delivery up outside off, Mandhana skips down the track and looks to loft it over mid off but miscues it, Asmavia Iqbal runs back from mid off and takes a good catch.

Smriti Mandhana c Asmavia Iqbal b Anam Amin 6 (14), India 24/1 in 4.5 overs.

11:47 hrs IST: Smriti Mandhana is struggling to get going as she crawls to 5 off 12 balls. India 22/0 after four overs. Over in Sydney, Australia are taking on New Zealand and Steven Smith has scored his first ton against the Blackcaps. Catch live action here.

11:42 hrs IST: Anam Amin, left-arm orthodox, comes into the attack and she starts off poorly as Mithali gets another boundary. Smooth batting from India’s top player.

11:41 hrs IST: Much better over from Mir. Only one run conceded and India are 11/0 after two overs.

11:39 hrs IST: Sana Mir will open the bowling from the other end. Mithali Raj on strike. Highest run-getter versus Highest wicket-taker contest begins.

11:37 hrs IST: A very long over comes to an end. India have moved to 10/0 in the first over.

Mithali Raj is the leading run-getter for India in the Women’s Asia Cup T20 tournament. ( Hindustan Times )

11:35 hrs IST: Horror start for Iqbal. After the boundary, she bowls four consecutive wides. The pressure is starting to show and Pakistan are immediately on the back foot. This over takes you back to Zaheer Khan’s meltdown in the 2003 World Cup final against Australia in which he conceded 15 runs in his first over to put India on the back foot.

11:32 hrs IST: Poor start for Iqbal but Mithali gets off the mark in style. Full ball, overpitched in fact outside off, Mithali leans into the cover drive and creams it to the deep cover fence.

11:30 hrs IST: Right, the national anthems have been done. We are all set for action. Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj are coming out to open. For Pakistan, Asmavia Iqbal will open the bowling.

11:25 hrs IST: Playing XIs of both India and Pakistan

India Women: Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Smriti Mandhana, Mithali Raj, Veda Krishnamurthy, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Meghna Singh, Sushma Verma(w), Anuja Patil, Ekta Bisht, Preeti Bose

Pakistan Women: Bismah Maroof(c), Javeria Khan, Sana Mir, Nida Dar, Sadia Yousuf, Asmavia Iqbal, Nain Abidi, Sidra Nawaz(w), Iram Javed, Anam Amin, Ayesha Zafar

11:23 hrs IST: The India vs Pakistan clash is indeed the clash of bat vs ball. Pakistan’s Sana Mir is the leading wicket-taker with 11 wickets while India’s Mithali Raj is the leading run-getter with 147 runs at an average of 73.5.

11:22 hrs IST: Pitch report: There is an even covering of dry grass and there is a little bit of moisture. The conditions are overcast and this will help the pace bowlers.

11:20 hrs IST: Pakistan’s Road to the Final in 2016 Asia Cup T20: Pakistan started with a bang as they bowled Nepal out for 47 to win by nine wickets. They defeated Sri Lanka women by eight wickets but lost to India by five wickets. Pakistan came back strongly to bowl Bangladesh out for 44 as they won by nine wickets and they rounded off the league by defeating hosts Thailand by five wickets.

11:11 hrs IST: India’s Road to the Final in 2016 Asia Cup T20: Defeated Bangladesh as they dismissed them for 54 to win by 64 runs. They defeated hosts Thailand by nine wickets and defeated Pakistan women by five wickets in a tense round-robin encounter. India defeated Sri Lanka by 52 runs but their high point was defeating Nepal by 99 runs, in which they bowled Nepal out for 21.

11:07 hrs IST: India women have won the toss and have chosen to bat against Pakistan. Harmanpreet Kaur will lead India while Bismah Maroof will lead Pakistan.

10:58 hrs IST: India won the title in 2012 in Guangzhou by defeating Pakistan. Will history repeat itself in 2016 in Bangkok?

10:51 hrs IST: The Indian women, just like the men’s team, have a fabulous record against Pakistan in Twenty20s. In eight encounters, India have won six and lost just two. In the Asia Cup, India have a 3-0 advantage over Pakistan. However, it must be noted that Pakistan’s two wins have come in the World T20.

10:50 hrs IST: A warm welcome to the final of the Women’s Asia Cup Twenty20 final in Bangkok. It is time for India vs Pakistan, a rivalry that is electric.

The Indian women’s team have enjoyed a dominant run in the Asia Cup T20 tournanment. In the five league matches, they have won all five and each of them have been convincing wins. In their league match against Pakistan, they defeated them by five wickets. However, the most noticeable thing in the encounter was that Pakistan caused some anxious moments.

No other team has caused India problems. Against Bangladesh, they secured a 64-run win. Against hosts Thailand, they won by nine wickets and they rounded up with a 52-run win over Sri Lanka and a 99-run win over Nepal. In fact, in the match against Nepal, they bowled them out for 21, the lowest ever score in T20 history.

Barring their loss to India, Pakistan have also enjoyed themselves. They thrashed Nepal by nine wickets, Sri Lanka by eight wickets, Bangladesh by nine wickets and Nepal by five wickets. In the matches against Bangladesh and Nepal, they bowled the opposition out for 44 and 51 respectively.

India’s Mithali Raj is the leading run-scorer with 147 runs at an average of 73.5 while Sana Mir of Pakistan is the leading wicket-taker with 11 wickets. The final in Bangkok promises to be a titanic clash.