India crush Pakistan in Women's T20 World Cup opener

Deepti Sharma took five wickets as India bowled Pakistan out for 106, beginning their campaign for a maiden Women's Twenty20 World Cup title with a commanding 64-run victory over their traditional rivals.

Sharma claimed the final three wickets in five balls as India defended 170 on Sunday before a packed crowd at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, UK.

Seven months after Sharma starred in India's win in the Women's ODI World Cup final with five wickets and 58 runs, she opened this T20 World Cup with another standout performance. Shree Charani supported her with figures of 3-21.

Sharma took the first two wickets as Pakistan's chase began strongly, but by the 10th over India had taken control.

Pakistan needed Muneeba Ali, who was dropped twice, to fire, but Sharma dismissed her for 41 in the 11th over with a brilliant direct hit from backward point.

When captain Fatima Sana fell the next over at 77-5, the team quickly collapsed.

Sharma's late burst of 5-10 made her the leading wicket-taker in women's T20 history with 166 wickets.

"I always believe in myself, that when the right time comes I will step up," the all-rounder said.

India struggled in the powerplay and Smriti Mandhana survived a run-out chance on 27 off 24 balls, but the reprieve inspired a ferocious assault on Pakistan's bowling. She needed just 10 more balls to reach fifty.

The left-hander was dropped again on 55 and hit her own helmet with the bat, forcing a concussion check. She passed it, hit her ninth boundary, and was finally caught by Sana with a fine low catch.

Mandhana's dismissal sparked a mini-collapse, including captain Harmanpreet Kaur for 36. India began the 19th over at 132-5, hoping to reach 150.

That was when Richa Ghosh exploded with 34 off 17 balls, combining with Sharma to take 23 runs from T20 World Cup debutant Tasmia Rubab.

"If it was possible, I would send [Ghosh] at ball one," Kaur said. "But she has a role, and she is doing it well."

Sana conceded 15 in the final over, and the target of 171 proved too much for Pakistan, based on their head-to-head record against their neighbours.

India dominate World Cup encounters with Pakistan, beating them in every meeting in both the 20- and 50-over formats.

Following the trend set by their men's team at last year's Asia Cup, India did not shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts for the second consecutive World Cup meeting, after the 50-over encounter in October.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh pulled off a record chase on the same ground to beat the Netherlands in the European side's first match at the Women's T20 World Cup.

Bangladesh reached 141-4 with five balls to spare, having never scored more than 126 in a successful World Cup chase.

In reply to the Netherlands' 139-8, the South Asian side dragged the match to the final over despite a solid foundation from opener Juairiya Ferdous, who scored her second fifty since her T20 debut in January.

Ferdous scored 26 of the first 27 runs and 33 of the 47 in the powerplay. But the 20-year-old also had two escapes. On 7, the third umpire controversially ruled out a catch at deep midwicket by Sterre Kalis, and on 18 Ferdous was dropped.

Both her sixes sailed over the midwicket rope, and when she fell for 50 off 33 balls at 67-1 in the eighth over, Bangladesh were almost halfway there.

Dutch spinners Silver, Heather Siegers and Caroline de Lange (2-27) slowed Bangladesh, but they could not sustain the pressure.

An unbeaten 56-run partnership between Sharmin Akhter and Shorna Akter secured Bangladesh's fourth win in seven T20 World Cup appearances.

Dutch captain Babette de Leede won the toss, and her No. 3 batter steadied the innings with 50 off 45 balls until the 17th over, when she was run out attempting a second run.

Bangladesh's attack was led by medium-pacers Marufa Akter (2-31) and Ritu Moni (1-17).

On Tuesday, defending champions New Zealand face Sri Lanka, and hosts England take on Ireland.