Bowlers’ collective effort and opener Smriti Mandhana’s unbeaten 63 helped India Women canter to an eight-wicket win over their Pakistan counterparts at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Sunday.

This thumping win with 38 balls to spare would certainly lift the spirits of the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team after the loss to Australia in their campaign opener.

The qualitative difference between the two teams was apparent on Sunday as Pakistan couldn’t even put up a fight.

In a game reduced to 18-overs-per-side due to rain, Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat. But they folded for just 99 as, barring opener Muneeba Ali (32), none of their other batters could come up with any meaningful contribution.

India’s bowlers, too, made it tougher for the Pakistanis with the lengths they bowled. Sneh Rana with her off-spin and left-arm orthodox Radha Yadav picked up two wickets apiece, while Renuka Singh, Meghna Singh and even part-timer Shafali Verma took a wicket each.

Three run-out dismissals made matters worse for Pakistan, who lost their last five wickets for only three runs. Playing as many as 49 dot balls didn’t help their cause either.

The target wasn’t at all a challenging one for the Indians and openers Shafali and Mandhana made merry with a 61-run stand inside the first six overs.

Mandhana tore apart the Pakistani attack, unleashing strokes at will. Shafali, too, hit a couple of boundaries and a maximum before perishing for 16 off just nine balls. Mandhana, though, continued with her range of strokes, her 42- ball knock comprising eight fours and three sixes.

India face Barbados next in their final Group A game on Wednesday.

Brief scores: Pakistan Women 99 in 18 overs (M. Ali 32; S. Rana 2/15, R. Yadav 2/18). India Women 102/2 in 11.4 overs (S. Mandhana 63 n.o., S. Verma 16). India Women won by 8 wickets.