India’s Smriti Mandhana hits a half-century (AP/PTI)

The blockbuster encounter between India and Pakistan at Edgbaston on Sunday not only gave India a resounding win but also set a new attendance record in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup.A crowd of 18,814 packed the stadium for the Group 1 encounter, making it the most attended group-stage match ever in the Women’s T20 World Cup. The figure surpassed the previous record of 15,935, which was also set during the India-Pakistan clash in Dubai on October 6, 2024.The record turnout highlighted the growing popularity of women’s cricket and the immense appeal of the India-Pakistan rivalry, which continues to attract unprecedented interest from fans around the world.The attendees were treated to an impressive all-round performance from India. After recovering from an early setback of 18/2, India scored a mammoth 170/6 thanks to a brilliant innings of 68 runs in 44 balls. Smriti Mandhana And an inning of 34 runs in just 17 balls by Richa Ghosh.Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur Made an important partnership of 91 runs for the third wicket and laid the foundation of India’s competitive score. The left-handed batsman hit nine fours and two sixes in his innings full of beauty and timing, while Harmanpreet contributed 36 runs.Pakistan never seriously threatened the target. Apart from Muniba Ali’s 35-ball 41, the batting unit struggled against India’s spin attack and was bundled out for just 106 runs in 17 overs.Deepti Sharma Was a star with the ball, taking a career-best 5/10 from four overs. The all-rounder also achieved a historic feat and became the highest wicket-taker in Women’s T20 International history. Left-arm spinner Sri Charani provided excellent support with figures of 3/21.India eventually won by a comprehensive 64 runs, giving the record-breaking Edgbaston crowd plenty of opportunity to celebrate. As the Women’s T20 World Cup continues to grow in stature, the attendance milestone is another reminder of the game’s rapidly growing global reach and the unmatched drawing power of the India-Pakistan competition.