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Indian women notch cautious 6-wicket win over archrival Pakistan at T20 World Cup

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — India batted cautiously in a six-wicket win over archrival Pakistan, and West Indies easily beat Scotland, at the Women’s T20 World Cup on Sunday.

Pakistan was stifled by fast bowler Arundhati Reddy (3-19) and off-spinner Shreyanka Patil (2-12) to score a modest 105-8 in its 20 overs on a slow cricket wicket at the Dubai International Stadium, with Nida Dar top-scoring with 28 off 34 balls.

India, which lost its first Group A game against New Zealand by 58 runs, reached 108-4 in 18.5 overs as captain Harmanpreet Kaur made a calm 29 off 24 balls before retiring hurt late in the chase.

With only two runs needed for victory Kaur briefly lost her balance but regained her ground as wicketkeeper Muneeba Ali missed a stumping opportunity. Kaur clutched the back of her neck as she walked back to the dugout before Sajeevan Sajana reached the target with a boundary.

Despite the win, India is still fourth in the group with a poor net run-rate of minus 1.217 behind third place Pakistan, which beat Sri Lanka in its opening game and has a net run-rate of 0.555. New Zealand and Australia occupy the first two spots after winning their respective opening group games.

India had squeezed Pakistan to 7-71 in the 15th over despite Asha Sobhana dropping two easy catches off Muneeba Ali (17) and captain Fatima Sana (13). Muneeba’s struggling knock of 26 balls finally ended when she got stumped off Patil’s wide ball.

Sana smashed two boundaries but was brilliantly snapped by wicketkeeper Richa Gosh, who plucked a one-handed catch over her head behind the wicket to give some consolation to leg-spinner Sobhana (1-24) for her early lapse in the field.

Dar held the innings together in the death overs with a 28-run partnership with Syeda Aroob Shah, who scored 14, before Reddy had Dar clean bowled in the final over.

India’s batting powerhouse was over-cautious against Pakistan’s spin heavy bowling attack. Shafali Verma, who top-scored with 32 off 35 balls, successfully overturned a leg before wicket decision against her through television referral early in her knock but India’s top-order batters struck only five boundaries in their entire run chase.

Sana (2-23) picked up two late wickets off successive balls when Jemimah Rodrigues (23) and Gosh both were caught behind. Sana came close to have Deepti Sharma lbw in her final over but the onfield decision was overturned by the third umpire when TV replays suggested the batter had got a thick inside edge.

WEST INDIES BEATS SCOTLAND

Playing at its first Women’s T20 World Cup, Scotland chose to bat first against West Indies in a Group B game with both teams looking for their first win in the tournament.

Leg-spinner Afy Fletcher grabbed 3-22 and Qiana Joseph made a rapid 31 off 18 balls to secure the six-wicket win for West Indies with 50 balls remaining.

Fletcher’s brilliant spell in the middle overs saw the 37-year-old take the wickets of batters Alisa Lister (26) and captain Kathryn Bryce (25) with Scotland held to 99-8 in its 20 overs.

West Indies motored to 101-4 in just 11.4 overs to overcome its 10-wicket drubbing at the hands of South Africa in the first match. Joseph’s whirlwind knock featured a 77-meter six.

Deandra Dottin, who came out of retirement after two years for the tournament, hit an unbeaten 28 off 15 balls after Joseph was brilliantly caught by Priyanaz Chatterji.

Scotland’s Olivia Bell (2-18) took a stunning low return catch to dismiss Shemaine Campbelle for 2.

West Indies tops Group B on net run-rate. Scotland is last in the five-team group.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.