Kuala Lumpur: Nothing but annihilation can describe India’s thumping 142-run win at the Kinrara Academy Oval in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday (June 3). India Women decimated Malaysia in the opening game of the Women’s Asia Cup T20, 2018 to get their campaign off to the brightest of starts after bowling the opposition out for just 27 in 13.4 overs, chasing 170. It not only was the largest margin of victory in the women’s game in T20Is (in terms of runs), but also the lowest total ever scored, beating Bangladesh’s 44 to it.
In a steep chase, India’s bowlers ran amok over the Malaysia line-up as no batter managed to enter double digits. Sasha Azmi’s 9 was the highest for Malaysia, with as many as six batters copping ducks. Pooja Vastrakar scalped three, while Anuja Patil and Poonam Yadav had two apiece.
India opted to bat and on the back of Mithali Raj’s class, were led to 169 for 3 in their 20 overs. Raj carried her bat through the innings, but was left three short of a century; her 97-run knock comprised of 13 fours and a six. With skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (32), Raj’s stand of 86 runs in just 53 balls, gave India the impetus they needed in the middle overs to put them in a position of strength.
In the end, it was an easy win for India as they climbed to the top of the table. They face Thailand Women next, while Malaysia are up against a Sri Lankan challenge on Monday.
