In the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match on Sunday (October 6) between India and Pakistan, Indian wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh delivered one of the most memorable moments of the game.
Richa Ghosh’s brilliant catch: Departure of Fatima Sana
On the last ball of the 14th over, Asha Sobhana bowled a well-flighted delivery outside the off-stump that gripped and turned away from the batter. Pakistan’s captain Fatima Sana, attempting to slog sweep for a third consecutive boundary, only managed an edge. Richa, showing remarkable athleticism and presence of mind, dived to her right and took a stunning one-handed catch, dismissing Fatima for 13 off 8 balls. The dismissal left Pakistan in deep trouble at 70/6 and shifted the momentum firmly in India’s favour.
Here’s the video:
Earlier, Pakistan’s decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired as they faced immediate setbacks. Renuka Singh set the tone by dismissing Gull Feroza for a four-ball duck in the very first over, putting Pakistan on the back foot. Deepti Sharma then claimed the wicket of Sidra Amin, who struggled for her 8 runs off 11 balls. Pakistan’s middle-order also failed to find any rhythm, with Omaima Sohail falling cheaply for 3 runs and Muneeba Ali, despite showing some resistance, managing only 17 runs off 26 deliveries. With wickets tumbling regularly, Pakistan were unable to build a solid platform and found themselves at 52 for 5 halfway through their innings.
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India’s bowlers keep Pakistan under pressure
India’s bowlers, led by Arundhati Reddy and supported by Renuka and Deepti, consistently troubled Pakistan’s batters throughout the innings. Arundhati was particularly effective, taking 3 key wickets, including the dangerous Aliya Riaz, who was dismissed for just 4 runs. Shreyanka Patil and Sobhana also played crucial roles, restricting Pakistan’s scoring opportunities. The early breakthroughs by Renuka and Deepti set the stage for a dominant performance, and Ghosh’s spectacular catch to remove captain Fatima further strengthened India’s grip on the game.
Nida Dar’s lone resistance
While most of Pakistan’s batting lineup struggled, all-rounder Nida Dar put up a valiant effort to provide some stability in the middle order. Dar scored 28 runs off 34 balls, striking one boundary, and tried to steady the innings after the flurry of wickets. She found some support from Syeda Aroob Shah, who remained unbeaten with 14 runs off 17 balls. Together, the pair put on a 28-run partnership for the eighth wicket, but it wasn’t enough to pose a significant challenge to India. Despite Dar’s efforts, Pakistan’s innings ended at 105/8, leaving India in a commanding position heading into their chase.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.