India beat Pakistan to win Women’s Twenty 20 Asia Cup titles

New Delhi: Indian women’s cricket team defeated arch-rivals Pakistan by 17 runs to defend their Twenty20 Asia Cup title at Bangkok on Sunday.

In a repeat of the last edition’s final, India posted 121/5 after batting first at the Asian Institute of Technology Ground.

Veteran Mithali Raj scored a brilliant unbeaten 73 off 65 balls. Other than the 34-year-old, none of the Indian batswomen managed to contribute with the bat.

Jhulan Goswami was the only other batswoman to reach double figures, 17 off 15.

But India defended the tricky target with as many as five bowlers taking wickets. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur managed her resources pretty well to keep the pressure on their rivals.

For Pakistan, skipper Bismah Maroof top scored with 25 off 26 balls.

Raj returned as the top scorer with 220 runs from four innings, which included two not outs. She posted the two top scores, 73* today and 62 against Sri Lanka on Thursday.

Left arm spinner Ekta Bisht took nine wickets to become tournament’s top wicket-taker. Her compatriot Anuja Patil was second with nine scalps.

India remained unbeaten in the tournament, beating Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Pakistan in the league round.

India had defeated Pakistan in the 2012 final too, by 18 runs at Guanggong International Cricket Stadium, Guangzhou.

India are the undisputed champions in Asia, having won all the six tournaments. The first four tournaments were competed in ODI format.

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Source:Zee news