Even Karan Johar couldn't have envisaged a more drama-packed sequence of events that the 7,000 supporters saw at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium here on Saturday.
An exciting finish was interrupted by steady drizzle just when the Indian eves were turning tables on their arch-rivals. Needing 20 runs off 24 balls with six wickets down, rain came to rescue for Pakistani eves and D/l method was put into play which resulted in a Pakistan win as they were two runs ahead of the required runs at that stage. As the clock stuck 6:55 pm, there was a huge shout from the Pakistan camp on hearing the good news and they know now that they still have a great chance of making it into the semi-finals.
Chasing 97 to win, Pakistan batswoman started off flying from the first ball. They reached eight runs in just first five balls for which India took almost six overs. Just when it looked like Sidra Ameen would steal the match away from India, Rajeshwari got the break through off the priced wicket. Harmanpreet struck the next blow to stop the flow of runs.
The match came to life when Iram Javed's shot flat-batted slap was superbly taken by a diving Mithali Raj at cover as Pakistan were left to 71/4, still needing 27 off 34 balls. Towards the climax, pressure was seen on both the teams in order to reach the finish line. Sushma Verma, the wicketkeeper, missed a run-out and a stumping in the space of three deliveries, before sending back Sana Mir, the Pakistan captain, for a duck with a direct hit to give India sniff. Pakistan were 77/6, but then the rain Gods smiled on the visitors as not another ball was able to be bowled.
For a team that has played in the semi-final two times (2009 & 2010), India were nervous when they were put to bat after losing the toss. Veda Krishnamurthy (24) was the highest scorer for the hosts in a match dominated by the bowlers. Shikha Pandey (10) and pacer Jhulan Goswami (14) hit some lusty blows towards the end to take India to mere score of just 96 runs.
Earlier, India started on a disastrous note losing opener Vellaswamy Vanitha and Smriti Mandana in a span of just two runs. Vanitha, who survived a run-out scare in the first over, lived dangerously as pressure got better off her as her powerful hit went straight into the Pakistan skipper Sana Mir hands at mid-wicket area. Smriti also went cheaply after being trapped plump in front by Asmavia when the scorecard read just five runs after five overs. Such was India's performance. The Pakistanis struck to some superb bowling as they stopped the flow of runs to only allow the first boundary from skipper Mithali Raj's (16) willow almost seven overs! Mid-way through the innings, Hosts were reeling at 27/2. But as they say, pressure can get to anyone, even to the best and that is when Mithali mistimed a full toss delivery off Nida and gave a simple catch to Ameen. Pakistan captain Sana Mir then sent back in form Veda who was looking in fine touch with bat. India's first six came off in the last over courtesy Shikha Pandey off Asmavia which deserved standing ovation from the huge crowd and round of applause from the media.
Brief Scores: Pakistan: 77/6 (Ameen 26, Gayakwad 1/11) beat India: 96/7 (Krishnamurthy 24, Amin 1/9, Iqbal 1/13) by two runs (D/l method).