Colombo : India swung the momentum back in their favour as they look to defend 247 against Pakistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2025 at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
Amin’s fifty kept Pakistan’s hopes alive but she found little support at the other end after Natalia Pervaiz’s dismissal with whom she stitched a 69-run stand for the fourth wicket. Amin was dismissed after a well-played knock of 81, which is now the highest score by a Pakistan batter against India in Women’s ODIs.
Sneh Rana got the crucial wicket of Amin as she was caught out at the deep end by Harmanpreet Kaur. Earlier, Rana had also chipped in with the wicket of Sidra Nawaz.
Fellow spinner Deepti Sharma continued her fine form, picking up the wickets of Fatima Sana and Rameem Shamim to put the pressure on Pakistan.
Pakistan lost three early wickets in their chase as India put the pressure on them in the powerplay. Muneeba Ali and Sadaf Shams were sent back to the hut before Aliya Riaz got out for the thrid wicket.
Muneeba Ali was the first one to be out after a soft dismissal. The opener lifted her bat while outside the crease and Deepti Sharma’s quick direct hit from the slips caught her short. The third umpire confirmed the dismissal after India appealed.
In the first innings, Pakistan delivered a strong all-round bowling performance to bowl out India for 247, led by Diana Baig. Baig wrapped up the innings by dismissing Kranti Goud and Renuka Singh, finishing with impressive figures of 4/69 to emerge as Pakistan’s standout bowler. That saw her claim 100 wickets for Pakistan across formats.
Apart from Baig, Sadia Iqbal and Fatima Sana claimed two wickets each while Rameen Shamim and Nashra Sandhu also contributed with the ball.
None of the Indian batters managed to convert their starts into a half century with Harleen Deol top-scoring with 46.
Richa Ghosh played a crucial cameo of 35 off 20 balls, helping India inch close to the 250-mark despite wickets falling regularly after Sneh Rana’s dismissal for the sixth wicket.
Baig had claimed the crucial wicket of Deepti Sharma edged one to the keeper soon after Sneh Rana fell in the previous over, caught in the deep off Fatima Sana, who also picked up her second wicket.
Earlier on, Nashra Sandhu struck to remove Jemimah Rodrigues, leaving India with half their side back in the hut.
Rodrigues was trapped LBW after a successful review, falling while attempting a sweep that she completely missed. With that wicket, Nashra Sandhu became the joint highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. Shares the honour with former captain and ICC Hall of Famer Sana Mir who has 17 dismissals.
Just the over before Rodrigues’ dismissal, Rameen Shamim dismissed Harleen Deol as she stepped down the track but was caught by Nashra Sandhu at long on.
Rodrigues and Doel had absorbed the pressure after Pakistan had removed India captain Harmanpreet Kaur for the third wicket. Diana Baig bowled one down the leg side and Kaur was caught behind while trying to guide it towards square leg. Kaur had steadied the innings alongside Harleen Deol after the early losses of Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal.
Mandhana and Rawal put on a steady 48-run stand before Fatima Sana provided the breakthrough, trapping Mandhana LBW. Soon after, Sadia Iqbal delivered a beauty that angled in sharply to dismiss Rawal, leaving India two down after a solid foundation.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and elected to bowl first against India in Colombo.
The 2 teams teams are coming off contrasting results in their maiden outings at the marquee tournament. While India arrive into the contest on the back of a win against Sri Lanka in the tournament opener in Guwahati, Pakistan are yet to open their account after having lost to Bangladesh in their first game.
Both teams have played eleven times against each other in this format, with India emerging victorious on all occasions.
Brief Scorecard :
1st Innings :
IND : 247 (50)
Harleen Deol : 46 (65)
PAK :
Diana Baig : 4/69
2nd Innings :
PAK : 159 (43)
Sidra Amin : 81 (106)
IND :
Kranti Gaud : 3/20
Result : India won by 88 runs.
