COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: India extended their perfect record against Pakistan in women’s One Day Internationals to 12-0 after a comprehensive 88-run victory in their ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.
Batting first after Pakistan won the toss and opted to field, India posted a competitive total of 247 for nine in 50 overs. Despite no half-century from any batter, contributions across the order laid a solid foundation.
Openers Smriti Mandhana (23 off 32) and Pratika Rawal (31 off 37) gave India a brisk start before Pakistan’s bowlers struck back. Harleen Deol anchored the middle order with 46 off 65 balls, while Jemimah Rodrigues added 32 off 37.
Richa Ghosh provided the late fireworks with an unbeaten 39 from 20 deliveries, smashing three fours and two sixes to push India close to the 250 mark. Deepti Sharma (25) and Sneh Rana (20) also made useful lower-order contributions.
For Pakistan, fast bowler Diana Baig was the pick of the attack, taking four wickets for 47 runs, while Sadia Iqbal and Fatima Sana claimed two wickets each.
Pakistan falter despite Sidra Amin’s resistance
Chasing 248, Pakistan struggled against India’s disciplined bowling. The innings began disastrously when opener Muneeba Ali was run out for just two after a direct hit by Deepti Sharma — a decision confirmed by the third umpire after replays showed her bat lifted momentarily over the crease.
The early setback triggered a collapse. Sadaf Shamas (6) and Aliya Riaz (2) fell cheaply, leaving Pakistan reeling at 26 for three inside 12 overs.
Sidra Amin and Natalia Parvaiz offered resistance with a 69-run partnership, but once Parvaiz departed for 33, the innings lost momentum again.
Sidra Amin fought valiantly with a fluent 81 off 106 balls — her 13th ODI fifty and first against India — before being dismissed by Sneh Rana. None of the other batters could build on her effort as Pakistan folded for 159 in 43 overs.
Deepti Sharma and Kranti Goud took three wickets each, while Sneh Rana picked up two.
Drama off the field
The match carried added anticipation after recent tensions surrounding Indo-Pak sporting encounters. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur avoided shaking hands with Pakistani skipper Fatima Sana during the toss, echoing the controversies of the men’s Asia Cup earlier this year.
During the pre-match press conference, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana stressed that her team was “focused solely on the game”.
This was India’s second straight win in the tournament after defeating Sri Lanka by 59 runs in their opening match, a rain-affected fixture decided by the DLS method.
Pakistan, meanwhile, suffered their second consecutive defeat following a heavy seven-wicket loss to Bangladesh earlier in the week, where their batting collapse saw them bowled out for 129.
Score summary
India Women: 247-9 in 50 overs (Harleen Deol 46, Richa Ghosh 39*, Pratika Rawal 31; Diana Baig 4-47, Sadia Iqbal 2-38)
Pakistan Women: 159 all out in 43 overs (Sidra Amin 81, Natalia Parvaiz 33; Deepti Sharma 3-35, Kranti Goud 3-39, Sneh Rana 2-31)
Result: India won by 88 runs.
