IND vs PAK : Shreyanka Patil produces a gravity-defying catch to remove Rameen Shamim in Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash

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The blockbuster rivalry between India and Pakistan ignited Birmingham as the two sides faced off in the 6th match of Group 1 at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Billed as a high-stakes encounter, the match at Edgbaston delivered everything fans expected, dominated by tactical brilliance, explosive batting, and one defining moment of sheer athletic genius in the field. Ultimately, India ran out comfortable winners, securing a comprehensive 64-run victory to assert their dominance in the tournament.

While the scorecard reflects a heavily one-sided game, the definitive highlight of the match belonged to India’s rising star, Shreyanka Patil. During the 15th over of Pakistan’s chase, Patil produced a moment of magic that will undoubtedly feature in tournament highlight reels for years to come.

Pakistan were already reeling under intense pressure, searching for boundaries to keep a climbing required run rate in check. Off the fourth ball of the 15th over, left-arm spinner Shree Charani cleverly slowed the pace down, extracting sharp turn away from the left-handed Rameen Shamim. Seeing the flight, Shamim skipped down the track, aiming to loft the ball over the extra cover boundary.

However, the extra spin forced a thick outside edge. The ball skewed sharply and lobbed quickly to the right of backward point. Stationed there, Patil reacted with lightning reflexes. She anticipated the trajectory perfectly, sprinted across the turf, and launched into a horizontal, gravity-defying dive. Extending her arms at full stretch, she plucked the ball just centimeters above the grass. The stunning grab sent Shamim packing for 4 and left the 18,814-strong Birmingham crowd in absolute awe, effectively breaking the remaining resistance of the Pakistan lower order.

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Earlier in the day, India set up their massive victory with a powerhouse batting display, posting a formidable total of 170/6 in their allotted 20 overs. After losing opener Shafali Verma early for just 6, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana took center stage. Mandhana anchored the innings magnificently, hammering a blistering 68 off 44 balls, laced with 9 fours and a six. She found an able partner in captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who played a steady knock of 36 off 35 balls. A late-innings cameo from wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, who smashed an explosive 34 off just 17 deliveries, propelled India to a commanding total.

Faced with a daunting target of 171, Pakistan’s chase unraveled completely under a relentless Indian bowling assault. Despite a brisk start in the Powerplay led by opener Muneeba Ali, who top-scored for Pakistan with a valiant 41 off 35 balls, the middle order crumbled spectacularly.

The star of the show with the ball was veteran off-spinner Deepti Sharma. Sharma tore through the opposition lineup with a spellbinding performance, registering extraordinary figures of 5/10 in her 4 overs to walk away with the Player of the Match honours. She was brilliantly supported by Charani, who finished with 3/21, including the crucial wicket of Shamim. Pakistan were eventually bundled out for a mere 106 runs in 17 overs, sealing a flawless, all-round victory for Team India.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.