In a high-stakes ICC Women’s World Cup match on Sunday, India defeated Pakistan by 88 runs, showcasing both outstanding batting and disciplined bowling.
The match occurred at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where contrasting innings from Harleen Deol and Richa Ghosh significantly contributed to India’s victory. Deol scored 46 off 65 balls, while Ghosh delivered an explosive 35 off 20 balls, leading India to a total of 247 all out.
This thrilling encounter began with a toss confusion that mistakenly awarded the toss to Pakistan, who opted to bowl first. However, this decision did not deter India’s performance on a sluggish pitch, highlighting their continued dominance over Pakistan.
Pacer Kranti Gaud spearheaded India’s bowling attack with impressive figures of 3/20, dismantling Pakistan’s top order swiftly. Additionally, Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani added further pressure with 3/45 and 2/38 respectively, effectively sealing the win for India.
Despite a strong effort from opener Sidra Amin, who scored 81 off 106 balls, Pakistan collapsed to 159 all out within 43 overs. This loss marked India’s 12th consecutive ODI victory against their arch-rivals, maintaining an unblemished record.
The match saw dramatic moments, including a bizarre run-out and a 15-minute delay due to a swarm of bugs invading the field. Tensions rose as India continued to observe their controversial “no-handshake” policy during and after the match.
Pakistan’s chase started poorly. They lost Muneeba Ali (2) due to a comical run-out when Deepti Sharma executed a direct hit. This early wicket set the tone for Pakistan’s faltering innings.
Following that, Gaud struck again, dismissing Sadaf Shamas (6) and Aliya Riaz (2) swiftly, leaving Pakistan languishing at 26/3. Amin and Natalia Pervaiz, who scored 33, put together a brief 69-run partnership but lacked support from the rest of the batting line-up.
Earlier in the match, India capitalized on the strong performance of Deol and Ghosh. Opening batting commenced briskly, with Pratika Rawal scoring a rapid 31 that included three consecutive boundaries off Diana Baig. Unfortunately, Smriti Mandhana’s early dismissal (23) sent a ripple of concern through the side, necessitating a sturdy response.
Diana Baig, the key bowler for Pakistan, ended with 4/69 and was instrumental in pushing back India’s attempts to control the game. Although India lost regular wickets, the partnership between Deol and Harmanpreet Kaur (19) as well as Jemimah Rodrigues (32) added valuable runs.
As India faced pressure in the middle sessions, Richa Ghosh countered with a blistering innings, swiftly hitting three fours and two sixes. This aggressive batting lifted India close to the crucial 250-run mark.
Following the innings break, the Indian bowlers delivered with clinical precision, leading to a decisive win. They consistently outplayed the opposition, continuing to build momentum in the World Cup campaign.
Brief Scores:
India Women: 247 all out in 50 overs (Harleen Deol 46, Richa Ghosh 35*, Jemimah Rodrigues 32; Diana Baig 4/69, Fatima Sana 2/38).
Pakistan Women: 159 all out in 43 overs (Sidra Amin 81; Kranti Gaud 3/20, Deepti Sharma 3/45, Shree Charani 2/38).
Result: India won by 88 runs.
