Women's T20 World Cup: Jemimah and Richa star in win over Pakistan

A high-scoring match, maximum pressure and a form that has been wavering for a while. But none of it affected Jemimah Rodrigues. She heard no noise, spoke to herself and showcased nerves of steel as she helped India thump Pakistan by seven wickets in their Women's T20 World Cup opener on Sunday. This was India's highest-ever successful chase in T20 cricket.At the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, India and Pakistan played out a contest befitting the hype surrounding it. In a face-off highlighted by youth power on either side and the experience of Pakistan skipper Bismah Maroof, India chased down a highly competitive target of 150 with six balls to spare.While Player of the Match Jemimah anchored the chase with her unconquered 38-ball-53 (8x4), the U-19 World Cup-winning team duo of Shafali Verma (33; 25b; 4x4) and Richa Ghosh (31 n. o; 20b; 5x4) played key roles. Although there were a few hiccups and the run rate touched 10 an over at one stage, India were always in the chase, especially with wickets in hand. Pakistan were undone by some below-average fielding and lack of bowling options in the death overs.Yastika Bhatia (17) and Shafali got India off to a good start but the team was pegged back by left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu (2/15). With skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (16) back in the dugout in the 14th over, Jemimah shouldered the responsibility of seeing the team through some innovative hitting.Earlier, given the conditions, both teams went for spin-heavy playing XIs. Pakistan opted to bat and their star of the day was Ayesha Naseem (43 n. o; 25b; 2x4; 2x6), who stole the limelight from their inform skipper Bismah, who top-scored with a 55-ball 68 (7x4).The 18-year-old Ayesha was a heady combination of head, heart and guts. Coming into to bat with her team at 68/4 in 12.1 overs, she accelerated from the fourth delivery she faced, picking Pooja Vastrakar for her first boundary, a drive over mid-off. She was quiet against left-arm spinner Radha but flexed her muscles against pace, smashing Renuka Singh for a six over long-on. The teenager followed it up with a sweetly-timed lofted drive to the boundary, which unnerved the bowler. A delivery after Radha dropped her in the final over, she was dropped again by Harleen Deol as the lofted shot went over the ropes. Radha (2/21) was the pick of the Indian bowlers.QUESTIONABLE UMPIRINGThe umpiring wasn't of top-notch quality, but what was shocking was that an extra delivery bowled by seasoned Nida Dar in the seventh over went unnoticed. Incidentally, Rodrigues dispatched the ball to the ropes.