For the fourth consecutive Sunday, India asserted their dominance over Pakistan across formats. This time, it was the Women in Blue who outclassed their arch-rivals by 88 runs to secure a second straight win in the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
With this victory, the Indian women extended their perfect record against Pakistan in One-Day Internationals to 12-0. Meanwhile, the Women in Green continued their dismal campaign, having already suffered a seven-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in their tournament opener.
Chasing 248, Pakistan’s hopes rested on Sidra Amin’s gritty half-century, but her valiant 81 off 106 balls wasn’t enough as the rest of the batting lineup crumbled under pressure, folding for 159. For India, pacer Kranti Goud and left-arm spinner Deepti Sharma led the charge with three wickets apiece, while Sneh Rana claimed two.
Amin found little support after Natalia Pervaiz (33) fell following a 69-run fourth-wicket stand. Rana later dismissed Amin — caught in the deep by Harmanpreet Kaur — before removing Sidra Nawaz (14), one of only three Pakistan batters to reach double digits.
India’s bowlers struck early in the powerplay, reducing Pakistan to 26 for three. Muneeba Ali was the first to go after a moment of hesitation outside the crease, with Deepti’s sharp direct hit from the slips catching her short. Soon after, Sadaf Shams and Aliya Riaz followed, leaving Pakistan in deep trouble.
Earlier, Richa Ghosh’s unbeaten 35 off 20 balls, laced with three fours and two sixes, provided India with the much-needed late flourish after the dismissal of Deepti Sharma (25) — the team’s top scorer in the tournament opener against Sri Lanka — left the Women in Blue reeling at 203 for 7 with five overs remaining.
Pakistan’s Diana Baig led the bowling effort with figures of 4 for 69, becoming the first Pakistani woman to claim 100 wickets across formats. Sadia Iqbal and Fatima Sana picked up two wickets each, while Rameen Shamim and Nashra Sandhu chipped in with one apiece.
None of the Indian batters managed to convert their starts into a half-century, with Harleen Deol top-scoring with 46. Earlier, Nashra Sandhu dismissed Jemimah Rodrigues (32), trapping her leg before wicket after a successful review when she missed a sweep. Just an over earlier, Rameen had removed Harleen, who stepped down the track but was caught by Sandhu at long-on.
Rodrigues and Deol had steadied the innings after the dismissal of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (19). Diana Baig bowled one down the leg side, and Kaur was caught behind while attempting to glance it towards square leg.
Kaur had earlier rebuilt the innings with Harleen after the early losses of Smriti Mandhana (23) and Pratika Rawal (31). Mandhana and Rawal had added 48 runs for the second wicket before Fatima Sana provided the breakthrough, trapping Mandhana LBW. Soon after, Sadia Iqbal delivered a sharp in-ducker to dismiss Rawal, leaving India two down after a solid start.
In continuation of India’s no-handshake stance in matches against Pakistan, skippers Harmanpreet and Fatima avoided pleasantries at the toss, where Pakistan opted to field first.
Brief Scores:
India: 247 in 50 overs (Harleen Deol 46, Richa Ghosh 35*, Jemimah Rodrigues 32; Diana Baig 4/69)
Pakistan: 159 in 43 overs (Sidra Amin 81, Natalia Pervaiz 33; Kranti Goud 3/20, Deepti Sharma 3/45)
Result: India won by 88 runs.