Ten overs, two maidens, 18 runs conceded, two wickets taken.
If you want to rub your eyes again and take another look, that’s ok, we’ll wait. Because Ekta Bisht was bowling on another planet on Sunday in Derby. Against arch-rivals Pakistan, India were in all sorts of trouble as they were restricted to a below-par 169/9 after opting to bat first.
But Pakistan’s hopes were swiftly banished when the left-arm spinner Bisht came on in only the second over of the chase and had Ayesha Zafar out first ball. What followed was a procession of identical leg-before-wicket calls as the 31-year-old from Uttarakhand had Pakistan flummoxed to finish with figures of 5/18 and take India to an incredible 95-run win. Those are the best figures by an Indian bowler at the Women’s World Cup, but only Bisht’s second-best figures: her best is 5/8 against the same opposition in Colombo in February this year.
🇮🇳
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 2, 2017
5 for 18 off 10 overs. 👏
Of course the #INDvPAK Player of the Match was Ekta Bisht! 🙌#WWC17 pic.twitter.com/QAtNtyMuCi
Twitter couldn’t help but give Bisht a standing ovation:
What an incredible victory by @BCCIWomen . Defending 169 with ease. Great spell by Ekta Bisht & wonderful support by everyone else.#INDvPAK
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 2, 2017
What a performance by Ekta Bisht 👏 Congrats @BCCIWomen for winning the match in style.. 👍 pic.twitter.com/XRFTBp37FS
— Manoj Tiwary (@tiwarymanoj) July 2, 2017
Ekta Bisht ripped the heart of Pakistan's batting. 3 wickets in 4 overs while giving away only 4 runs. Super Stuff. 🙌😊🏏🇮🇳👏👏 #INDvPAK #WWC17
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 2, 2017
Brilliant team effort! Congratulations @BCCIWomen for a superb victory over #pak special mention to #EktaBisht #PakvInd #WomensWorldCup pic.twitter.com/lnlOik6yLr
— Sai Dharam Tej (@IamSaiDharamTej) July 2, 2017
Some, though, were in the mood for a few jokes, gently ribbing Jasprit Bumrah and Neil Nitin Mukesh for some reason.
Ekta Bisht aur Ek tha Bumrah. #Chu #INDvPAK
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) July 2, 2017
Pakistan ~ We Will Win This Easily !!
— Babu Bhaiya (@Shahrcasm) July 2, 2017
Ekta ~ Bisht Please !!#INDvPAK #WWC17
Ekta Bisht's bowling figures : 3 wickets, 3 runs, in 3.3 overs. Looks like a distant cousing of Neil Nitin Mukesh.#INDvPAK
— SAGAR (@sagarcasm) July 2, 2017
But to sum up, this was a performance for India to be proud of. A day when their bowlers came under pressure and showed up when most required:
A champion team finds a way to win even when its strength fails to fire. India's top-order failed today. Yet they won by 95 runs! #IndvsPak
— Shirin Sadikot (@ShirinSadikot) July 2, 2017