Electing to bat first in the must-win Group A clash, India started with intent. Openers Smriti Mandhana (38) and Shafali Verma (34) laid a solid foundation with a 66-run partnership. While the middle overs saw a slight dip in momentum and a frustrating run-out for Mandhana, Kaur took the onus of acceleration entirely upon herself. The skipper played a blistering, captain’s knock, smashing an unbeaten 56 off just 27 deliveries. Her late onslaught—highlighted by three consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux in the final over—propelled India to a formidable 170/4.
