India once again showcased their supremacy over Pakistan in women’s cricket, securing an emphatic 88-run win in the Women’s World Cup clash on Sunday, October 5.
At the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. With this victory, India extended their head-to-head record against Pakistan to an unassailable 12-0 since their first encounter in 2005. The win also helped India reclaim the top spot on the points table with four points and a net run rate of +1.505.
Batting Woes and Key Contributions
India struggled for consistency with the bat, finishing their innings at 247 all out. No batter managed a half-century, with Smriti Mandhana (23) falling cheaply to Fatima Sana, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributing just 19 off 34 balls. Pratika Rawal (31) showed fluent strokeplay but was dismissed by Sadia Iqbal, while Harleen Deol fell for 46 attempting an ambitious loft. Jemimah Rodrigues (25) survived a couple of lucky reprieves but couldn’t capitalize, partly due to a brief stoppage for bug fumigation.
India’s promotion of Sneh Rana ahead of Richa Ghosh didn’t pay off initially, as Rana struggled for 20 off 33 balls. Ghosh, coming in later at No.8, injected momentum with an unbeaten 35 off 20 balls. Despite the batting struggles, India managed a defendable total, thanks to disciplined bowling and fielding.
Bowling Dominance
Diana Baig (4/69) and Fatima Sana (2/38) were standout performers for Pakistan, while Kranti Goud (3/20) and Sneh Rana (1/38) led India’s charge to bowl Pakistan out for 159 in 43 overs. Sidra Amin’s 81 was the highlight for Pakistan, making her the first Pakistani woman to hit a six against India in ODIs and breaking a decade-old record for the highest individual score by a Pakistani against India. However, her efforts weren’t enough as India maintained control throughout.
Areas for Improvement
While the win extended India’s unbeaten streak and reinforced their dominance over Pakistan, the match exposed ongoing concerns. The middle order struggled to accelerate during the middle overs, especially against spin, echoing patterns from their earlier match against Sri Lanka. Fielding lapses, including three dropped catches, and inefficient use of DRS, highlighted areas India will need to address ahead of stronger opponents.
Looking Ahead
India’s next match is against South Africa on October 9 in Vizag. With three days to regroup, India will aim to fine-tune their batting and fielding to maintain their unbeaten run in the Women’s World Cup 2025.
India’s performance once again confirmed why clashes with Pakistan have rarely been competitive in women’s cricket — a combination of tactical bowling, resilient fielding, and timely batting came together to deliver another commanding victory.
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