Abyan Amir was reporting live from R. Premadasa Stadium.
India eventually finished the match with a comfortable win but at the halfway mark it could have been anyone’s game.
The hosts were bowled for a below par 247 but in the end that turned out to be too much for the Pakistani batters who folded for 159.
There were plenty of stops in between due to bugs, fumigation and the humidity causing frequent drink breaks.
Diana Baig ended up with four wickets and cleaned up India’s tail as well but it was captain Fatima Sana who shifted the momentum after a good start for India in the power play.
Pakistan go into the next encounter with Australia on the 8th with losses next to their name. Fatima Sana’s players need some introspection to their batting approach if they are to compete to go into the next stage of the World Cup.
India’s players celebrate their victory at the end of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 one-day international (ODI) match between India and Pakistan at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on October 5, 2025. — AFP
Speaking after the match, skipper Fatima said: “We gave a lot of runs in the powerplay, extras too. That was the case in the death too. I felt we needed to restricted them under 200.
“We decided to go with specialist batters in the top-five, they need to step up. We need to express ourselves, long partnerships, assess and adapt to conditions. Amin is hard-working, hope she’ll continue to do well.”
Meanwhile, Indian counterpart Harmanpreet said she was “very happy [with the] important win.
“Our bowling was great, Kranti was outstanding; Renuka helped her. We created so many chances, dropped some. But win makes us happy.
“It wasn’t easy to bat on, we wanted to bat long and see how much we got. It’s been raining and there was a hold on the pitch. We wanted to keep wickets in hand, Richa then gave us 30 crucial runs. Right now, I’m happy we won. Just want to go with the momentum when we go back to India. We know how the pitches there are, hope to work our combinations.”
Player of the match Kranti Goud said: “Proud for me, and the people from my village. They’ve got a big screen up.
“Harman asked to remove the second slip as the pace was reducing but I insisted on it and it got Riaz’s wicket. My coaches tell me normal things and I catch onto them.”
Over 43 — Pakistan all out; India win by 88 runs
Two wickets of that Sharma over as the Indian captain hits the bullseye to run Diana out. Sadia gets caught for a duck on the last ball off the over and ultimately the innings.
Over 42 — Pakistan 158/8
Nashra isn’t known for her batting, and Rana keeps it tight to her. Just three runs coming off that one.
Over 41 — Pakistan 155/8
Sharma is smacked to the boundary by Diana who can certainly hit a long-ball. Pakistan at this point need more than 9 an over and a healthy dose of luck to make a match of it after being eight-down.
Over 40 — Pakistan 150/8
Rana gets the crucial breakthrough as Sidra falls after a valiant knock of 81. She required support from the other end but it was not meant to be as Pakistan slump to eight-down in the 40th over with just 150 on the board.
Pakistan’s Sidra Amin leaves the ground after losing her wicket during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 ODI match between India and Pakistan at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on October 5, 2025. — AFP
Over 39 — Pakistan 146/7
Sharma strikes as Rameen is bowled around her legs, Pakistan are seven down and in all sorts of trouble as Sidra desperately seeks some sort of support from the other end.
Over 38 — Pakistan 143/6
Rana gets the breakthrough for India as Pakistan sink further. She takes an excellent catch off her own bowling to send Sidra packing.
Rameen is the next batter in for Pakistan. The left-hander was sent up the order in the last encounter against Bangladesh and played a useful knock.
Over 37 — Pakistan 141/5
Two boundaries in the over for Sidra as her score reaches 75, the veteran Pakistani batter is playing a lone hand and needs support from the other end. Spinner Charani continues to struggle to control the ball.
Over 36 — Pakistan 130/5
Sidra pulls the ball beautifully to the boundary to bring the Pakistan score to 130. Gaud has ended her spell with figures of 3-20.
Will the Indian captain Kaur’s strategy of bowling out her pacers backfire? Only time will tell.
Over 35 — Pakistan 124/5
Charani back into the attack from round the wicket and bowls a decent over for just two runs. She induces a half-chance on the last ball of the over, but Ghosh cant collect it cleanly.
Over 34 — Pakistan 122/5
Eight runs off that Singh over as Sidra smashes yet another boundary. Pakistan need her to stay at the crease and take this innings deep with 126 to get off 16 overs.
Over 33 — Pakistan 114/5
Sidra smacks Sharma through the covers courtesy not one but two misfields by the Indian fielders — who have not had a good day in the field at all.
