India produced a dominant bowling performance to defeat Pakistan by seven wickets after restricting their arch-rivals to just 55 runs, Pakistan’s lowest-ever total in T20I cricket. India completed the chase in just 8.4 overs, with 68 balls remaining. Although India suffered an early setback, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma guided the team comfortably over the line. The victory was particularly memorable for Harmanpreet, who became the first player in men’s or women’s T20I cricket to captain a team in 150 matches. She celebrated enthusiastically throughout Pakistan’s batting collapse before hitting the winning runs herself. Pakistan Collapse From 27 for 0 to 55 All Out Pakistan appeared to make a steady start after reaching 27 without loss, but their innings quickly fell apart. They lost six wickets for just eight runs in 29 balls, leaving them unable to survive the full 20 overs. Only Pakistan’s two openers managed to reach double figures, while Shawaal Zulfiqar was the only batter to score at a run-a-ball rate. India’s bowlers exploited the conditions in Dubai effectively, with left-arm spinner N Shree Charani making an immediate impact. The world's No. 1-ranked T20I bowler claimed two wickets in her opening over. Charani dismissed Gull Feroza after drawing her out of the crease before trapping Zulfiqar lbw for 14. Her accurate bowling put Pakistan under sustained pressure and triggered a collapse from which they never recovered. Prema Rawat Spins a Web Leg-spinner Prema Rawat was another standout performer for India, finishing with remarkable figures of 4-0-9-3. Rawat bowled 19 dot balls from her 24 deliveries, refusing to give Pakistan's batters any opportunity to attack. Her control proved particularly effective on a Dubai pitch that offered turn. Pakistan's batters struggled to find safe scoring options and repeatedly resorted to risky shots after long periods of dot-ball pressure. Several attempted strokes against the spin ended in wickets. India Recover After Early Scare India's chase did not begin perfectly. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana struck twice in the second over, including the dismissal of Shafali Verma, who had just reached the milestone of 3,000 T20I runs. India also lost Smriti Mandhana to a contentious lbw decision. The delivery appeared to pitch slightly outside leg stump, but with no DRS available in the tournament, the decision could not be reviewed. Despite the early setbacks, Harmanpreet and Deepti remained composed and completed the chase with ease. India One Step Ahead The match reflected India's greater control in all departments. Before the game, Deepti Sharma had said India were "one step ahead" of Pakistan, and the performance on the field largely backed up that assessment. India did make a couple of mistakes, including two dropped catches by Pratika Rawal and a near-missed run-out involving Deepti. However, Pakistan were unable to capitalize on those opportunities. Pakistan's defeat leaves them with work to do in their campaign, although they remain in contention for a semi-final place. A victory over Hong Kong would keep their qualification hopes alive. However, if Pakistan's batting problems continue, their inability to build partnerships and handle pressure could become a major weakness when they reach the knockout stage.

The United Arab Emirates kept their semi-final hopes alive in the 2026 Women's T20 Asia Cup with a convincing six-wicket victory over Indonesia, thanks to an impressive bowling display followed by a composed chase. UAE bowled Indonesia out for just 73 before reaching their target in 13.1 overs, securing two valuable points with 41 balls to spare. The hosts must now defeat Bangladesh on September 8 and will also need other results to go in their favour to qualify for the semi-finals. Kotte strikes twice in opening over UAE made the perfect start with the ball as offspinner Suraksha Kotte struck with the first two deliveries of the innings. She dismissed Maria Corazon and Ni Luh Dewi for first-ball ducks, immediately putting Indonesia under severe pressure. Captain Esha Oza then removed opener Rahmawati Pangestuti in the fourth over as Indonesia slipped further behind. Indonesia captain Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini provided the only significant resistance. She top-scored with 39 from 52 balls, hitting four fours and a six. Her innings accounted for more than half of Indonesia's total, but a lack of support at the other end prevented the visitors from building a competitive score. Kotte finished with excellent figures of 3 for 16, while left-arm spinner Heena Hotchandani claimed 2 for 6. Samaira Dharnidharka added another wicket, and legspinner Vaishnave Mahesh struck twice in the final over to complete Indonesia's innings. Oza leads UAE chase Chasing 74, UAE openers Theertha Satish and Oza put together 17 runs for the first wicket before Satish was dismissed in the fifth over. Oza then took control, finding the boundary twice in both the sixth and eighth overs. Rinitha Rajith also contributed with three fours in the ninth over, helping UAE move rapidly towards victory. However, a brief collapse gave Indonesia some hope. UAE fell from 62 for 1 to 68 for 4, with Oza dismissed for a 29-ball 30 at the start of the 11th over. Sofia Velic then struck twice in the following over. Despite the late wobble, UAE needed only six more runs and completed the chase at the beginning of the 14th over, finishing on 75 for 4. The victory keeps UAE's semi-final ambitions alive, although their qualification remains dependent on both their final group-stage match and other results. For Indonesia, the defeat brought their campaign to an end. They finished the tournament without a win, losing all three of their matches.

India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana produced a sensational batting performance against Hong Kong in the Women’s Asia Cup, scoring a blistering 124 off just 64 balls as India secured a place in the semi-finals with a 124-run victory. Mandhana’s innings was significant not only for India’s emphatic win but also for the number of records she broke during the night. With her knock, Mandhana surpassed former India captain Mithali Raj’s tally of 10,868 international runs to become the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket. She now has 10,880 runs across formats. Reflecting on the achievement after the match, Mandhana admitted she was unaware of the record while she was batting. “Till I was batting, I didn't know what record because I didn't know what's the exact runs or all of that,” Mandhana said. “But yeah, looking back, definitely a very good day for Indian cricket.” Mandhana also paid tribute to Mithali Raj, whom she described as a legend and role model. “Mithali di has been such a legend and a role model, and we've all grown up watching her bat, so to go past her in the tally of runs is something I definitely never imagined to do,” she said. “But happy that there are two Indians at the top two.” Mandhana Sets New Century Record The left-hander also created another major milestone, scoring her 18th international century. She moved past Australia’s Meg Lanning and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt, who have 17 international centuries each. Mandhana now has 14 ODI centuries, just one behind Lanning’s record, along with two centuries each in Tests and T20Is. “Going past the international record of the centuries, I mean, 18 is a good number to go past,” Mandhana said

Defending champions Sri Lanka overcame a determined Indonesia side to secure a comprehensive 75-run victory in their Asia Cup clash in Dubai, thanks to a fighting half-century from Nilakshika Silva and a sensational seven-wicket haul from captain Chamari Athapaththu. Sri Lanka struggled with the bat on a sluggish surface and were reduced to 62 for six before Nilakshika produced a crucial 50 off 35 balls to lift her side to 124 for seven. Indonesia made a bright start in the chase but collapsed once Sri Lanka introduced spin. Athapaththu tore through the lower order, finishing with career-best figures of 7 for 5 and completing a hat-trick as Indonesia were bowled out for just 49 in the 19th over. Sri Lanka Stumble With the Bat After being asked to bat first on a fresh but slow surface, Sri Lanka's top order struggled to adapt to the conditions. The batters repeatedly searched for boundaries instead of rotating the strike, resulting in 19 dot balls during the powerplay. Sri Lanka reached 31 for two after six overs and were soon in deeper trouble. At the halfway stage, they were 47 for five, with 28 dot balls already accumulated. Indonesia's bowlers deserve credit for maintaining disciplined lines and using their field settings effectively to frustrate the Sri Lankan batters. Sanjana Kavindi was the only batter among Sri Lanka's top five to reach double figures, scoring 15 with two well-struck boundaries before falling while attempting a cut against a straight delivery. Nilakshika Leads the Recovery With Sri Lanka's recognised batters running out, Nilakshika Silva once again produced a rescue act under pressure. She initially added 17 runs from 18 balls alongside Kaushini Nuthyangana, but after Nuthyangana's dismissal, Nilakshika took responsibility for guiding the tail. She encouraged Kawya Kavindi to keep the scoreboard moving and took advantage of scoring opportunities when they appeared. Her aggressive strokeplay included Sri Lanka's only six of the innings, which came in the penultimate over. The seventh-wicket partnership eventually produced 50 runs from 36 deliveries, with Nilakshika reaching her third T20I half-century in the process. Her unbeaten-looking rescue effort transformed Sri Lanka's position, taking them to 124 for seven — a total that initially appeared around par on a difficult batting surface. Athapaththu Destroys Indonesia's Chase Indonesia began their chase positively, with openers Maria Corazon and Rahmawati Pangestuti collecting 16 runs during the first two overs. However, Sri Lanka soon turned to spin, and the match changed dramatically. Athapaththu dismissed Pangestuti by bowling her before removing Corazon and Rada Rani with consecutive deliveries in her next over. She came agonisingly close to completing a hat-trick at the first attempt, with her yorker narrowly missing Desi Wulandari's off stump. Indonesia were unable to recover as Sri Lanka's spinners continued to apply pressure. Athapaththu returned to the attack in the 14th over and removed Nanda Sakarini before saving her best for the end. She claimed the final three wickets with the last three deliveries of the innings to complete a remarkable hat-trick and finish with career-best figures of 7 for 5. Indonesia were eventually dismissed for 49 in the 19th over. Sri Lanka Make a Statement The 75-run victory underlined Sri Lanka's ability to recover from difficult situations and showcased the impact of their senior players. Nilakshika's determined half-century rescued an innings that appeared to be heading for a below-par total, while Athapaththu's extraordinary spell ensured Indonesia never came close to threatening the target. For Indonesia, their disciplined bowling effort during Sri Lanka's innings was a major positive, but their inability to withstand Sri Lanka's spin attack ultimately proved decisive. The defending champions will take confidence from the comprehensive victory as they continue their Asia Cup campaign.

Thailand began their Women’s T20 Asia Cup campaign with a thrilling six-run victory over Hong Kong after successfully defending a modest total of 120 for nine in Dubai. Hong Kong all-rounder Marina Lamplough produced an impressive individual performance, claiming four wickets for just 11 runs before smashing an 11-ball 22. However, her efforts were not enough as Thailand’s bowlers held their nerve during the closing stages to secure victory. Chasing 121, Hong Kong made a steady start but struggled to maintain momentum through the middle overs. Kary Chan and Yasmin Daswani top-scored with 28 runs apiece, but Thailand offspinner Onnicha Kamchomphu turned the game in her side’s favour by removing both batters. Kamchomphu later dismissed Hong Kong captain Maryam Bibi to finish with three wickets for 27 runs and keep Thailand firmly in control. Hong Kong required 27 runs from the final three overs with only their lower-middle order remaining. Despite their best efforts, they managed just two boundaries from the last 18 deliveries. Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong then bowled a composed final over, defending 14 runs and dismissing Shanzeen Shahzad to seal the six-run win. The wicket also saw Putthawong move to the top of the all-time wicket-takers list in women’s T20 internationals. Earlier, Thailand had posted 120 for nine after being asked to bat. Captain Naruemol Chaiwai led the way with a crucial 43 from 31 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes. Nannapat Koncharoenkai contributed 27 but struggled to accelerate, taking 41 deliveries to reach her score. Her dismissal in the 17th over triggered a dramatic collapse, with Thailand losing seven wickets for just 20 runs in the final 3.1 overs. Lamplough capitalised on the late collapse, claiming three wickets in the 20th over to register the best T20I bowling figures of her career. Yet Thailand’s late resistance meant Hong Kong were set a target that ultimately proved just beyond their reach. Thailand’s disciplined bowling and composure under pressure ensured they opened their Asia Cup campaign with a hard-fought victory, while Hong Kong were left to rue their failure to finish the chase despite Lamplough’s outstanding all-round contribution.