Tag: Women’s World Cup 2025

VISAKHAPATNAM: Linsey Smith’s three-wicket haul, backed by a strong batting display, led England to a comfortable eight-wicket win over New Zealand here on Sunday in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

Set a mere 169-run target, England hit the winning runs on the loss of two wickets with ease in 29.2 overs.

Amy Jones remained unbeaten with 86 from 92 balls, a knock peppered with 11 fours and a six, whereas Tammy Beaumont struck seven fours in her 38-ball 40.

For New Zealand, there was nothing much in the bowling charts like batting as Lea Tahuhu and Sophie Devine managed to scalp one wicket each.

Earlier, New Zealand could not capitalize on the decision to bat first as their innings folded on 168 all out in 38.2 overs.

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The Three Lions removed opener Suzie Bates in the fifth over, who departed after scoring just 10 from 16 balls.

Following the early wicket, Amelia Kerr and Georgia Plimmer added 68 runs for the second before the former’s wicket sparked a collapse that the White Ferns could not recover from.

The pair was removed on successive deliveries, reducing New Zealand to 89-3 in 19.1 overs. Kerr made 35 from 43 balls with the aid of five fours, and Plimmer scored 43 from 57 deliveries laced with seven fours.

Besides the pair, there were no significant contributions from the middle-order batters.

For England, Linsey Smith remained the star bowler with three wickets to her name. Alice Capsey and Nat Sciver-Brunt supported her well with two scalps apiece.

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Two players from the Australia women’s cricket team were reportedly subjected to inappropriate behaviour and harassment by a motorcyclist in Indore during the ongoing ICC World Cup 2025.

The incident took place on Thursday morning when the players were walking to a nearby cafe, a day after Australia’s win over England.

According to Cricket Australia (CA), the motorcyclist approached and inappropriately touched the players before fleeing the scene.

Catch ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 news updates here!

“CA can confirm two members of the Australian Women’s team were approached and touched inappropriately by a motorcyclist while walking to a café in Indore,” the board said in a statement, adding that the matter was promptly reported to local authorities.

The players immediately informed their team security officer, Danny Simmons, who coordinated with local security personnel to dispatch a vehicle to the location.

Indore police later confirmed that a suspect has been taken into custody in connection with the case.

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The incident has cast a shadow over Australia’s preparations for their final group-stage clash against South Africa on Saturday.

The defending champions currently top the table and need a win to cement their position and set up a semi-final showdown with India in Navi Mumbai on October 30.

If they falter, however, South Africa would leapfrog them to first place, meaning Australia would face England in the opening semi-final in Guwahati on October 29.

READ: Rohit, Kohli masterclass powers India to victory over Australia

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ensure venues with appropriate playing and weather conditions for future tournaments.

Sana’s statement came following her team’s frustrating, rain-affected ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 campaign, which ended without a single victory.

The Green Shirts’ final group match against co-hosts Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium was abandoned due to persistent rain.

Notably, this was their third washed-out fixture of the tournament, leaving them seventh on the table with just three points from seven matches.

Speaking after the match, Fatima Sana expressed disappointment at how weather disruptions derailed Pakistan’s campaign and urged the ICC to address scheduling and venue selection more carefully in future global events.

“The weather did not go in our favour in the England match and others as well,” Fatima said. “ICC must arrange good venues for World Cups because we wait four years for this opportunity.”

The 23-year-old all-rounder, who captained Pakistan for the first time in a senior ICC event, acknowledged the team’s limitations but also highlighted areas of progress.

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“We were very good in bowling and fielding, but our batting needs improvement,” she reflected.

“In a couple of matches, we came very close, against Australia and England, but couldn’t cross the line. That’s the main thing we have to work on.”

Despite the disappointing results, Fatima maintained a positive outlook, saying that the experience of leading Pakistan in a major tournament had been invaluable.

“As the youngest captain, these matches give me a lot of confidence,” she said.

“I’m in a learning phase, and I always watch Kane Williamson. He also lost a close World Cup but was still smiling. As a captain, you have to believe in yourself.”

Looking ahead, the Pakistan skipper emphasised the need for more international exposure ahead of next year’s Women’s T20 World Cup.

“We haven’t played much cricket recently. Hopefully, we get more matches before the next big event so we can prepare well,” she added.

READ: Kane Williamson breaks silence on his future with New Zealand

COLOMBO: Pakistan final group-stage fixture against Sri Lanka ended in a washout at the ICC Women’s World Cup here at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday.

Following this, the women in Green ended their campaign on a disappointing note, finishing in seventh place without winning a single game, only ahead of Bangladesh on three points.

The persistent rain in Colombo continued today as Pakistan opted to bat after a toss delay, with the match reduced to 34 overs per side.

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Pakistan had scored 18-0 in 4.2 overs, after which rain had the final say, and the match was abandoned. Opening batters Muneeba Ali scored seven and Omaima Sohail remained unbeaten on nine.

Pakistan were already out of the tournament semi-final race on Tuesday when they faced a big 150-run defeat (DLS method) to South Africa.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Omaima Sohail, Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper), Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana (captain), Eyman Fatima, Rameen Shamim, Syeda Aroob Shah, Nashra Sandhu, and Sadia Iqbal.

Sri Lanka: Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Dewmi Vihanga, Malki Madara, and Inoka Ranaweera.

READ: Shan Masood appointed Consultant International Cricket and Players’ Affairs

NAVI MUMBAI: Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal’s sparkling centuries powered India to a comfortable win over New Zealand, sealing a semi-final spot for the hosts in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

After India’s win here at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy on Thursday, New Zealand and Sri Lanka were eliminated from the mega-event.

Set 325 in 44 overs as per DLS method in a rain-affected encounter, the White Ferns could only manage 271-8.

After losing Suzie Bates in the second over, Brooke Halliday and Georgia Plimmer
added a 50-run stand for the second wicket.

Plimmer made 30 from 25 balls, striking five fours, while Amelia Kerr scored 45 from 53 deliveries with the aid of four boundaries.

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However, India made a roaring comeback, removing set Plimmer and Sophie Devine in quick succession. As a result, New Zealand slumped to 59-3 in 11.3 overs.

Despite brief partnerships in the middle-order, New Zealand were unable to chase the target due to the mounting required run rate.

Brooke Halliday fought hard with her valiant 81 from 84 balls; however, it was not enough to take her side home.

For India, Renuka Singh and Kranti Gaud scalped two wickets each.

Earlier, after being put into bat, India piled up 340-3 in 49 overs, courtesy of Pratika Rawal’s and Smriti Mandhana’s imperious opening stand.

The duo added 212 for the opening wicket, which threw New Zealand out of the game. Mandhana 109 from 95 balls was laced with 10 fours and four sixes, while Rawal 122 from 134 deliveries included 13 fours and two sixes.

Jemimah Rodrigues was the other notable contributor, making 76 off just 55, which helped India finish strong at the back end of the innings.

For India, Amelia Kerr, Suzie Bates, and Rosemary Mair picked up one wicket each.

Playing XIs

India XI: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani

New Zealand XI: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (capt), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Eden Carson, Lea Tahuhu

READ: Pakistan withdraw from Junior Hockey World Cup in India

INDORE: Ashleigh Gardner’s sublime 104* and Annabel Sutherland’s 98* powered Australia to an easy win over arch-rivals England in the 23rd fixture of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 here at the Holkar Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

The victory marked Australia’s fifth consecutive victory in six matches, and they are now the only unbeaten side in the tournament.

Set 245, Australia hit the winning runs at ease, losing just four wickets in the process with 57 balls to spare.

The defending champions’ chase started on a shaky note as they lost the opener Phoebe Litchfield on the third ball of their innings. She was castled for one from two balls.

England had left Australia reeling with two more wickets in the next four overs. Georgia Voll and Ellyse Perry were the next batters to be dismissed. Both made six and 13 runs respectively.

Consequently, Australia were 24-3 in 5.2 overs before a 44-run partnership between Beth Mooney and Annabel Sutherland, bringing the total to 68 in 15.5 overs.

However, Sophie Ecclestone scalped the prize wicket of Mooney, further derailing the chase. She scored 20 from 44 balls with the help of a boundary.

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At this stage, England gained a foothold on the match, but it was Sutherland’s and Gardner’s monumental 180-run stand that took the game away from the Three Lions.

Both batters not only took the game away from England but also batted so briskly that the game ended in 40 overs.

Gardner’s knock was peppered with 16 fours, whereas Sutherland struck nine fours and six and ended up two runs shy of what could have been a magnificent hundred.

For England, Linsey Smith picked up two wickets in her eight overs.

Earlier, after being put into bat, England scored 244-9 in their 50 overs, courtesy of Tammy Beaumont’s composed knock.

Beaumont remained the cornerstone in England’s batting lineup and made 78 from 105 balls, studded with 10 fours and a six.

Alice Capsey was the second-highest scorer for her team, making 38 from 32 balls with the aid of five fours.

For Australia, Annabel Sutherland starred with the ball, picking up three vital wickets in her quota of 10 overs.

READ: Zimbabwe crush Afghanistan to seal rare innings win

COLOMBO: Pakistan captain Fatima Sana admitted her side’s failure with the ball cost them dearly as they slumped to a crushing defeat against South Africa in their must-win ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 clash here on Tuesday.

The rain-hit encounter, which was reduced to 20 overs per side, saw Pakistan fall well short of the revised target of 234, finishing at 83 for 7, a result that all but ended their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

Opting to bowl first, Pakistan’s previously consistent attack was dismantled by a ruthless South African batting lineup that piled up a record 312 for 9 in 40 overs, their highest-ever total in a Women’s World Cup match.

Speaking after the game, Fatima Sana didn’t shy away from admitting that it was Pakistan’s bowling that faltered under pressure.

“I think today is the day bowlers didn’t perform well. We have to accept it,” Fatima said. “They played very well, but we needed to be calmer in those situations.”

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The 23-year-old skipper pointed to the difficult post-rain conditions as a key factor behind her side’s struggle to find rhythm.

“After the rain, the ball was wet, and it was hard for the bowlers to grip. We tried to bowl on the stumps but couldn’t execute our plans,” she explained.

Despite acknowledging the bowling collapse, Fatima suggested the pitch remained good for batting, but Pakistan’s batters lacked belief in chasing the steep target.

“We lost early wickets and couldn’t build partnerships,” she said. “The pitch was fine, we just didn’t believe enough. Maybe some batters didn’t have that belief.”

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COLOMBO: South Africa Marizanne Kapp starred with bat and ball to knock Pakistan out of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 here at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday.

The 150-run victory put South Africa at the top of the points table with five wins in six matches.

Meanwhile, Pakistan crashed out of the tournament with one game remaining against Sri Lanka.

Following a series of rain interruptions, the Women in Green were given a revised target of 234 runs in 20 overs as per the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS) method.

However, they fell short, managing only 83 runs for 7 wickets, dashing their hopes of reaching a semi-final.

Sidra Nawaz top-scored for Pakistan, with 22* of 33 balls; however, none of the other batters could demonstrate a good batting show in front of clinical South Africa bowling.

For South Africa, Marizanne Kapp stood tall with the ball, picking up three wickets, whereas Nondumiso Shangase was equally good with her two wickets.

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Earlier, after opting to bat first, the Proteas Women racked up 312-5 in their allocated 40 overs.

Pakistan, however, were initially set to chase the 306-run target in 40 overs as per the Duckworth–Lewis–Stern (DLS).

After losing Tazmin Brits for duck only in the second over, the Proteas kept Pakistan bowlers at bay, courtesy of Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus’ solid 118-run partnership.

Wolvaardt top-scored with 90 from 82 balls, peppered with 10 fours and two sixes, while Luss struck eight fours and two sixes in her composed knock off 61 from 59 balls.

Albeit the highlight of South Africa’s innings was Marizanne Kapp’s 68 from just 43 balls, studded with six fours and three sixes

For Pakistan, Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sandhu picked up three wickets each.

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READ: West Indies outclass Bangladesh in thrilling Super Over finish

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly been considering shaking the women’s team’s coaching setup amid their underwhelming performance in the ongoing World Cup 2025.

According to insiders, the board is considering a comprehensive overhaul of the women’s coaching staff following the team’s disappointing run in Sri Lanka, where they remain winless after five matches.

Head coach Mohammad Wasim is likely to be replaced after the tournament, with discussions already underway regarding potential candidates.

The PCB is also expected to appoint foreign strength and conditioning coaches to enhance the team’s physical and technical standards.

In addition, efforts are being made to expand the player pool and increase international exposure through more frequent overseas tours for both the senior and U19 women’s teams.

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Sources further indicated that the board aims to strengthen ties with other cricket boards to secure more opportunities for Pakistani women cricketers in foreign leagues, a move seen as vital for bridging the competitive gap at the global level.

Pakistan currently sit at the bottom of the Women’s World Cup points table with just two points from five matches.

Their only bright moment came in a rain-hit encounter against England, where they restricted the defending champions to 133-9 in a 31-over contest and made a promising start in reply before the match was washed out.

The Women in Green now face an uphill battle, needing victories in both of their remaining fixtures against South Africa and hosts Sri Lanka, along with favourable results from other matches, to keep their faint semifinal hopes alive.

READ: Shaheen Afridi replaces Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan’s ODI captain

Sri Lanka snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to record their first win of the Women’s Cricket World Cup, edging out Bangladesh by seven runs in a nerve jangling finish in Navi Mumbai on Monday.

With Bangladesh cruising and only nine needed off the final over with five wickets in hand, having mustered just three runs off the penultimate over, Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu took the ball herself and turned the game on its head.

Four wickets tumbled in four balls as Bangladesh collapsed, losing five wickets for just two runs.

Athapaththu, calm amid the storm, finished with career-best figures of 4-42.

The drama began with Rabeya Khan trapped leg-before off the first ball, followed by a run-out next delivery.

Then, Bangladesh’s hopes sank when their captain Nigar Sultana danced down the track only to find long-off lurking.

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When Marufa Akter was adjudged lbw next ball, Athapaththu had conjured the unthinkable, defending nine with a single run conceded in the over.

For once, fortune favoured Sri Lanka, whose campaign had been marred by rain, missed chances and misfiring batters.

Hasini Perera, who struck her maiden ODI half-century, made 85 off 99 balls, peppered with 13 fours and a six.

She was the backbone of Sri Lanka’s 202 all out as she reached the milestone of 1,000 runs in ODIs.

A 74-run partnership with Nilakshika de Silva gave Sri Lanka a solid launch pad, before another collapse saw six wickets fall for 28 run.

Even so, the Sri Lankans held their nerve in the death overs to seal the win and climb to sixth in the standings.

With four points, they are level with New Zealand and India, although will need results to go in their favour to grab the last semi-final spot.

Australia, South Africa and England have already booked their places in the last four.

READ: Mohammad Amir reacts to Shaheen Afridi’s appointment as captain