India vs Pakistan (Pic credit: BCCI)
NEW DELHI: Pakistan endured a dramatic batting collapse against India in their Women’s Asia Cup 2026 clash in Dubai on Saturday, crashing to their lowest-ever total in T20I cricket after being bowled out for just 55. After opting to bat first, Pakistan appeared to have an opportunity to put scoreboard pressure on India. Instead, their innings unravelled spectacularly as India’s bowlers turned the screw, with Pakistan losing six wickets for just eight runs after initially reaching 27 without loss. The 55 all out is now Pakistan’s lowest total in Women’s T20Is, surpassing their previous low of 56 against New Zealand in Dubai in 2024. It also becomes the fifth-lowest total conceded by India in a Women’s T20I. Only Pakistan’s two openers managed to cross double figures, with Muneeba Ali scoring 13 off 15 balls and Shawaal Zulfiqar making 14 from 14.
Charani, Rawat trigger spectacular collapse
The slide began after Muneeba survived a couple of early scares before Shafali Verma eventually cleaned her up. Sree Charani then struck twice in the final over of the powerplay, turning Pakistan’s promising start into a full-blown collapse. Pakistan went from 27/0 to 35/6, with India’s spinners repeatedly breaching a batting line-up that struggled to cope with the pressure. Charani finished with outstanding figures of 3/7, while Prema Rawat also claimed three wickets for just nine runs. Deepti Sharma chipped in with 2/5 and Shafali Verma took one wicket. The Indian attack's ruthlessness was reflected in Pakistan's inability to build even a single substantial partnership after the opening stand. With wickets tumbling at regular intervals, the innings was wrapped up for 55 in 18.1 overs. Charani credited a simple approach for her success. "Just (trying) to bowl to my strength, and coaches are telling all bowlers, spinners especially, to bowl to strength and give more revs on the ball. [What deliveries are you working on?] Trying to get more consistency on my arm ball and be more accurate on the yorkers," she said at the break. The performance underlined why India had entered the contest with such confidence in their bowling attack. India had already secured a place in the semi-finals after winning their opening two matches against Thailand and Hong Kong, while Pakistan came into the game having beaten Thailand.
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Pakistan’s unwanted record in 200th T20I
The collapse came on a significant occasion for Pakistan, who were playing their 200th T20I. Instead of celebrating the landmark with a competitive total, they ended the innings with a record they would rather forget. Pakistan’s previous lowest all-out total in the format was 56 against New Zealand in Dubai in 2024. Their other lowest totals included 60 against England in Taunton in 2009, 63 against India in Guangzhou in 2012 and 65 against the West Indies in St Andrew’s in 2011. For India, meanwhile, the 55 all out added another dominant chapter to their recent record against Pakistan. India had won nine of their previous 10 T20I meetings, with their only defeat in that stretch coming in the 2022 Asia Cup. The contest also marked Harmanpreet Kaur’s record 150th match as a T20I captain, making her the first cricketer, male or female, to reach the landmark.
Which Indian bowler impressed you the most during this match?
Sree Charani Prema Rawat Deepti Sharma Shafali Verma
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Lowest all-out totals for PAK-W in T20Is
55 vs IND-W, Dubai, 2026
56 vs NZ-W, Dubai, 2024
60 vs ENG-W, Taunton, 2009
63 vs IND-W, Guangzhou, 2012
65 vs WI-W, St Andrew's, 2011
72 vs SL-W, Colombo (NCC), 2018
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