India defeat Pakistan by 88 runs to go top- Pakistan suffer second straight loss

COLOMBO (October 5, 2025) — India defended a below-par 247 and still finished with a comfortable 88-run victory over Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium, handing the Green Shirts a second straight loss at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. After bowling India out on the last ball for 247, Pakistan faltered badly with the bat and were dismissed for 159 despite a valiant 81 from Sidra Amin.

Highlights

• India 247 all out; Pakistan 159 all out — India win by 88 runs
• Kranti Goud 3-20 and Deepti Sharma lead India’s bowling effort; Diana Baig 4 wickets for Pakistan
• Sidra Amin plays a lone hand with 81, but lacks support
• The match was affected by bugs, fumigation, humidity, and frequent drink breaks; Pakistan was penalised for over-rate
• Skippers Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana reflect on powerplay leaks, dropped chances, and batting approach
• India moves to the top of the points table; Pakistan faces Australia on Oct 8

Match summary

India were bowled out for 247 in bowler-friendly, stop-start conditions that included long interruptions for bugs and fumigation and plenty of humidity-driven drink breaks. Pakistan’s chase never settled: the top order slid to 26-3 by the 12th over, a position from which only Sidra Amin offered resistance, stringing together boundaries and long spells of defiance en route to 81. Once she fell in the 40th over (Pakistan 150-8), the innings folded, ending at 159 in 43 overs.

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How India set it up

• Smriti Mandhana (31) and Pratika Rawal (23) gave India a 48-run start before Fatima Sana (2-39) struck in the ninth over.
• Harleen Deol (45) anchored through the middle until she holed out to Rameen Shamim (1-39).
• A late burst from Richa Ghosh (35 off 20)* pushed India beyond 200, even as Diana Baig (4 wickets) cleaned up the tail and endured an expensive spell.
• The innings saw unusual delays: fumigation for swarms of flies and dew flirting with the surface, while Pakistan’s over-rate penalty later forced an extra fielder inside the circle.

Pakistan’s chase: lone stand, little support

• The reply started with drama: an LBW review first ball and, later, Muneeba Ali’s run-out that drew debate after she’d grounded her bat and then lifted it as the bails came off.
• Kranti Goud’s 3-20 with movement under lights, backed by Renuka Singh Thakur’s probing spells and Deepti Sharma’s control, had Pakistan in a bind.
• Sidra Amin counter-punched — first six for a Pakistan batter against India in ODIs, a 69-run stand with Natalia Pervaiz (33) — but wickets at the other end kept India ahead.
• The crucial moment: Amin’s dismissal on 81; from 150-7 to 159 all out, the end was swift.

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What they said

• Fatima Sana (Pakistan captain): “We gave a lot of runs in the powerplay — extras too — and at the death. We wanted to keep them under 200. We went with specialist batters in the top five; they need to step up. We have to build long partnerships, assess and adapt.”
• Harmanpreet Kaur (India captain): “Very happy with an important win. Our bowling was great — Kranti was outstanding; Renuka helped her. We dropped some, but created many chances. It wasn’t easy to bat; the pitch had been under covers and was holding.”
• Kranti Goud (Player of the Match): Spoke of pride at home support and insisted on a second slip that produced Aliya Riaz’s wicket.

Turning points and talking points

• Powerplay leaks: Pakistan conceded too many early, then again at the death.
• Muneeba run-out and dropped chances kept pressure on the chase.
• Environmental chaos: bugs, fumigation, dew — and frequent stoppages — tested both sides’ focus.

What’s next

• Pakistan: Need “introspection” on batting approach before meeting defending champions Australia on Oct 8 in Colombo.
• India: Head home for the remaining group matches, carrying momentum — and the points-table lead — into a South Africa clash on Thursday.

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