Team India may have lost to Pakistan at Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla grounds on Saturday, but on Twitter, fans on both sides of the border witnessed a victory of sorts for women's cricket.
The Women's T20 World Cup match took place hours before the men's match in Kolkata, and was cheered with unprecedented enthusiasm not only by an excited audience in the stadium but also hundreds of fans on social media.
Not long ago, our comments on women sportspersons were limited to how they looked, what they wore. Today was different #wt20women #IndvsPak
— ashwaqm (@ashwaqM) March 19, 2016
Cricket continues to be a male dominated sport. Super happy to see the excitement in the audience #WorldT20women #IndvsPak
— ashwaqm (@ashwaqM) March 19, 2016
I prefer women over men #IndvsPak match #WT20women
— Rookie (@jatinrb) March 19, 2016
The home team got off to a cold start, making just 96/7 in 20 overs. But halfway through the visitors' response, the match suddenly grew exciting as Indian bowlers and fielders began to fight back. For a rare but refreshing hour, Indian captain Mithali Raj and fast bowler Jhulan Goswami trended on Twitter as they took down wicket after wicket.
It is so exhilarating to see both Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj trending on Twitter.
— Shuvro Ghoshal (@shuvro_addict) March 19, 2016
No matter the out come of this match .. I'm already fan of women's cricket. Spl Jhulan Goswami. #IndWvPakW
— Gautam Lulla (@gl_5) March 19, 2016
Jhulan Goswami bowls quicker than her male counterparts in the in the men's team. #yesIwentthere #WT20
— Haider Azhar (@HaiderAzhar) March 19, 2016
Mithali Raj's stunning catch that sent Pakistani batswoman Iram Javed back to pavilion at just 10 runs did not go unnoticed.
What a catch by Mithali Raj.. Hope she catches the Match.. #IndVsPak
— Modi Ji (@MODl_G) March 19, 2016
Raj, Mithali Raj.....Naam toh suna hi hoga.
— Chikoo (@TweetErrant) March 19, 2016
Unfortunatly Indian W team lost 2 Pak by Duckworth Lewis.KUDOS to Mithali Raj fr splendid catch n Sushma Verma fr suprb directhit #IndvsPak
— Ragini Nayak (@NayakRagini) March 19, 2016
The match was interrupted by rain when Pakistan needed a nail-biting 20 runs off 24 balls with just four wickets left. With no sign of the rain letting up, the women in green were declared winners based on the Duckworth-Lewis calculation method. Indians on Twitter were not happy.
Man, stupid rain. Engrossing match. India just getting in the groove. D/L says Pakistan will win if match not resumed. #WT20women #IndvPak
— Nihal Peter Moraes (@nihalmoraes) March 19, 2016
Those Duckworth Lewis headaches have once again screwed us. The Women were on their way to beating Pak till rain interrupted. 😡 #IndvsPak
— $ir $ri $ri Magal (@jhunjhunwala) March 19, 2016
At the end, fans allowed the fabled sporting spirit to prevail as they congratulated both the Pakistani women and women's cricket.
Between these chauvinistic male dominated world of cricket ,women steal the much needed show #IndvsPak #WT20women
— i__tahir (@wisdom_2th) March 19, 2016
Congratulations, you women of Pakistan.Have biryani & send some over here too :)
— Feminism in India (@FeminismInIndia) March 19, 2016
P.S. No hate tweets pls. #IndvsPak pic.twitter.com/wUshxbiuc8
