COLOMBO: A clinical bowling led by Kranti Goud’s three-wicket haul powered India to a comprehensive 88-run win over Pakistan in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 sixth fixture here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.
The win kept India’s perfect record intact against Pakistan, taking their tally to 12 victories and leaving the Green Shirts winless in ODIs.
Set 248, Pakistan crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for 159 in 43 overs.
The girls in Green endured a poor and sluggish start as opener Muneeba Ali (2 from 12) was run out, followed by a controversy. While Sadaf Shamas was caught and bowled after scoring six from 24 balls.
As a result, Pakistan were reduced to 20-2 in 7.3 overs. Aliya Riaz followed her in the 11th over and was caught after scoring just two.
Following the early hiccups, Sidra Amin and Natalia Pervaiz tried to steady Pakistan with a 69-run stand. The duo’s steady batting took the team’s total to 95; however, with the asking rate soaring, Pervaiz fell cheaply.
Nonetheless, Sidra held firm with wickets tumbling around her and eventually reached her half-century in the process. The right-hander found no support from the other end and eventually departed in the 39th over. She made 81 from 106 balls laced with nine fours and a six.
With her wickets, it was only a matter of time as Pakistan’s innings folded in 43 overs.
For India, Kranti Goud and Deepti Sharma scalped three wickets each.
Earlier, Diana Baig’s impressive four-wicket haul helped Pakistan bowl out India for 247. After being put into bat first, India were bundled out for 247 in 50 overs.
The openers provided a 47-run start with Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana scoring 31 and 23 runs respectively.
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Pakistan got its first breakthrough in the form of Mandhana, who was trapped lbw by Fatima Sana. India’s second wicket fell in a short time as Sadia Iqbal castled Rawal.
As a result, the women in blue were reduced to 67-2 in 14.5 overs. After openers were sent back, Harleen Deol and captain Harmanpreet Kaur added 39 runs to the total, which steadied India’s innings.
Despite wickets falling, Deol held firm and was involved in another stand of 45 runs with Jemimah Rodrigues. The duo’s batting helped their team cross the 150-run mark.
However, the duo’s wickets in the 33rd and 34th over pegged the hosts back and allowed Pakistan to tighten the screws in the latter half of the innings.
Deol, who top scored with 46 from 65, struck four boundaries and a six in her knock, while Rodrigues managed to score 32 from 37 balls with the aid of five fours.
India’s total could have been well under 250, but it was Richa Ghosh’s cameo that lifted them to a respectable total. She made 35 from 20, striking two maximums and three fours.
For Pakistan, Diana Baig picked up four wickets, whereas Sadia Iqbal and Fatima Sana supported her well with two wickets each.
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