ICC Women’s World Cup 2017: India vs Pakistan, 5 things India did right to beat their arch-rivals

#3 A solid stand after the first wicket

Poonam Raut has been India’s stalwart at the top

Smriti Mandhana has performed exceptionally well in India’s erstwhile encounters against England and West Indies. However, she perished early to an in-swinger from Diana Baig that thudded into her pads. The onus was on Poonam Raut and Deepti Sharma to stitch together a healthy partnership.

They put their heads down, played risk-free cricket and compiled together a partnership of 67 in 113 balls. Pakistan bowlers tied them down in the initial overs, but that didn’t draw any false strokes from the Indian batsmen.

After playing another useful hand of 47 runs from 72 balls, Poonam was caught and bowled by Nashra Sandhu, which eventually broke the ominous looking stand. Deepti Sharma went on to score 28 runs from 63 balls and gave Sandhu her third wicket.