NEW DELHI: Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghoshs extraordinary 58-run partnership for the 4th wicket coupled with sloppy fielding from the Pakistani females assisted India cruise to a seven-wicket win over the arch-rivals in their Group B campaign opener of the Womens T20 World Cup in Cape Town on Sunday.

The scintillating partnership between the Jemimah and Richa duo assisted India manage the second-highest successful run-chase in Womens T20 World Cup history.Rodrigues scored a stunning unbeaten 53 while Richa hit a power-packed 20-ball unbeaten 31 in Indias 150 chase which was completed with an over to spare.As It HappenedGhosh knocked three successive borders in an efficient 18th over, sent out down by Aiman Anwer, to change the skin tone of the video game, just when it seemed it was getting tight for India.Ghosh and Rodrigues turned the main architects of Indias win after their chase was derailed following quick departures of Shafali Verma and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.Shafali (33 off 25 balls) and Yastika Bhatia (17) gave an excellent start to the Indian run chase, stitching 38 runs in 5.3 overs.

The powerplay overs yielded 43 runs for one wicket.Shafali, who successfully reviewed a LBW choice in the fourth over, was going strong as she took the attack to the opposition bowlers.

Her termination in the 10th over with Sidra Ameen taking a fine catch near the border off the bowling of Nashra Sandhu set India on the back-foot.

One-down Jemimah endured a close stymiing call as India reached 67 for 2 at the midway mark with the experienced captain Harmanpreet having reached the crease.Harmanpreet struck a limit from the third delivery she faced and duplicated it in the very same 11th over to swell the Indian total.

However she was guilty of attempting to slog-sweep throughout the line and against the turn off the bowling of Fatima Sana.The leading edge was easily taken by Bismah Maroof as India were decreased to 93 for 3 in 13.3 overs.India needed 83 runs from the last 10 overs and in spite of the fall of crucial wickets, the great start and batting depth kept India in the hunt.

However run rate kept climbing up for India as they required 47 from the last five overs.With Jemimah and new batter Richa getting the limits often, the formula ended up being 28 runs from 3 overs.Richa turned the match on its head as she struck three succeeding limits in the very first 3 balls of the 18th over bowled by Aiman Anwer.

Ghosh was smart sufficient to send out two widish shipments to the fence.Needing 14 from the last 2 overs, Jemimah struck 3 fours in the penultimate over to end the match in a jiffy.Earlier, Pakistan posted 149 for 4 after choosing to bat, their greatest T20 World Cup total.Pakistan were minimized to 43 for 3 in the eighth over however they made a dazzling healing, scoring 91 runs in the 2nd half of their innings with captain Bismah Maroof (68 not out) and Ayesha Naseem (43 not out) stitching 81 runs for the unconquered 5th wicket.Maroof struck seven fours during her 55-ball unbeaten knock while Naseem struck two fours and 2 sixes from 25 balls during her unbeaten innings.Pakistan scored 91 runs from the 2nd half of their innings and 58 from the last five overs, as Maroof and Naseem irritated the Indian bowlers for more than eight overs to take their side to a tough total.For India, left-arm spinner Radha Yadav was the most effective bowler with figures of 2/21 while Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar got one wicket each.India did not take long to get the advancement, with in-form off-spinner Deepti Sharma dismissing Pakistan opener Javeria Khan (8) in the second over with India captain Harmanpreet Kaur taking an easy catch at brief great leg after the batter had struck a limit in the previous ball.Pakistan revealed attacking intent even after the early jolt as captain and one-down Bismah Maroof hit two successive boundaries in the 4th over.

Pakistan were 39 for one at the end of powerplay overs.A modification in bowling yielded success for the Indians as left-arm spinner Radha Yadav got rid of the other opener Muneeba Ali (12) in the seventh over.

A clever evaluation by the Indians in the next over resulted to another wicket as Nida Dar was eliminated as there was a slight touch of the ball on her gloves off Pooja Vastrakar.The two quick wickets set Pakistan on the back-foot from a promising position as they were minimized to 58 for 3 at the halfway mark.The experienced Maroof was going strong and held one end together but wickets fell around her, consisting of that of Sidra Ameen (11) who ended up being Yadavs second victim in the 13th over.With the arrival of Ayesha Naseem in the 13th over, Pakistan pressed the accelerator as she made scoring appearance simple with a six and four off Renuka Singh in the 16th over.(With inputs from PTI)