Picture Courtesy – Sportskeeda
As India prepares to face PAK in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024, let's rewind to a remarkable bowling performance that still echoes today
When it comes to cricket, India versus PAK is more than just a match. It’s a spectacle, a rivalry that transcends the boundaries of sport. Come 6th October 2024, all eyes will be on Dubai International Cricket Stadium as the Indian Women’s team takes on their fiercest rivals in the 7th match of Group A in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
With India having won 11 of the 15 T20Is between these two teams, the stats heavily favour the Women in Blue. But every clash has its moments of unpredictability. PAK’s four victories remind us that on any given day, history can be rewritten.
This time, as the teams prepare for battle under the Dubai lights, we look back at a day when an Indian bowler etched her name into the history books with a stunning five-wicket haul against PAK—a performance so rare, it remains the only such feat in the India-PAK women’s T20 saga.
It was 2009, in the early days of the ICC Women’s T20 competition. India, needing just 76 runs to win, found themselves in a tricky spot at 36 for 4. Though modest on paper, the chase looked like it might slip away. But this wasn’t a day defined by the Indian batting lineup.
Team India Celebrating One of PAK Wicket During the Iconic Encounter // Picture Courtesy – Indian Express
On that fateful day, it was a bowler who stole the show. With her tantalizing leg breaks and unerring accuracy, she dismantled PAK’s batting order, grabbing an extraordinary 5 for 16 in just 3.5 overs. The opposition simply couldn’t handle the pressure, with their innings folding for a paltry 75.
The match might have ended with India winning by five wickets, but it was this bowler’s spell that genuinely decided the contest. Who was she? Let’s find out.
If you guessed Priyanka Roy, you’re absolutely right! The right-arm leg-break bowler delivered one of the most memorable performances in women’s T20 history. Her figures of 5 for 16 crushed PAK’s hopes and marked the first and only time an Indian woman has taken a fifer against PAK in T20 cricket.
Roy with the Player of the Match Award After the Game Against PAK // Picture Courtesy – ESPNcricinfo
Born in 1988, Roy was a key player for India during her time, often stepping up when her team needed her the most. Her performances in the 2009 Women’s Cricket World Cup earned her a spot in the ICC Team of the Tournament, and that same year, she produced the magic in this unforgettable T20I match.
Though her international career was relatively short, Priyanka Roy made a lasting impact. She played 27 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 15 T20Is for India. While her batting contributions were modest, it was her leg-spin that grabbed attention. In T20Is, Roy took 21 wickets at an impressive average of 12.47, with her best bowling figures—no surprise—being that 5 for 16 against PAK.
Priyanka Roy and Anjum Chopra Celebrating a PAK wicket // Picture Courtesy – ESPNcricinfo
Despite not being a household name today, Roy’s contribution to Indian cricket, especially in that iconic 2009 game, remains etched in the annals of history. Her ability to extract turn and control under pressure made her an asset for India.
With players like Harmanpreet Kaur leading the Indian charge and PAK looking to make a statement, it’s bound to be an intense battle. Will we witness another bowling masterclass? Could another Indian bowler step up and replicate Roy’s magic? Only time will tell.
