Women’s Asia Cup: Charani, Prema Star As India Register Fifth Straight Win Over Pakistan (ld)

By Pramit Meher

**Charani & Prema Spin Pakistan Into the Ground as India Seal Fifth Straight T20I Win** What looked like a potential battle of attrition on that fresh, gripping pitch turned into a clinical spin clinic. India's four-pronged attack—N. Sree Charani, Prema Rawat, Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma—bundled Pakistan out for a mere **55 all out in 18.1 overs**, sending India to a comfortable **7-wicket victory** and a fifth consecutive T20I win over the archrivals. **Pakistan's Top-Order Collapse** Choosing to bat first—a call that surprised many—Pakistan looked scratchy before the dam broke. Muneeba Ali survived two dropped chances off Pratika Rawal before Shafali castled her for 13. Then Charani exploded: two wickets in the final powerplay over (Gull Feroza duck, Shawaal Zulfiqar lbw 14), followed by Ayesha Zafar caught at midoff behind Harmanpreet's 150th game as captain. The collapse was brutal: from **27/0 to 55/6**. Barring openers Shawaal (14) and Muneeba (13), nobody reached double figures. Charani finished **3/37** in four overs, while Prema Rawat grabbed **3/39** with a topped sweep and a caught-and-bowled Nashra Sandhu. Deepti wrapped it up with Tuba Hassan in the 19th over, and WK Richa Ghosh behind the stumps. **A Milestone Chase** Shafali set the tone, launching Sadia Iqbal's first ball over long-off for a six—and in doing so, became the **youngest batter to reach 3,000 women's T20I runs** (22y 220d), plus fastest by balls faced (2,182). She was then removed for 12 via a caught-and-bowled. Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana mounted a fighting spell, taking **3/17**—including a powerplay hat-trick burst that made her just the fourth fullmember bowler to do it twice in her career. But captain Harmanpreet (18*) and Deepti Sharma calmed the chase, with Deepti easing pressure by lofing Nashra Sandhu over midwicket. Harmanpreet sealed it in style—a clean loft over long-on for six in the ninth over. **Scoreboard:** - **Pakistan:** 55 all out (18.1 ov) — Shawaal 14, Muneeba 13; Charani 3/37, Prema 3/39 - **India:** 57/3 (8.4 ov) — Harmanpreet 18*, Shafali 12; Fatima Sana 3/17 *Source: IANS* Source: Cricketnmore