Colombo: India extended their dominance over Pakistan in women’s ODIs with a commanding 88-run victory in their 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. Defending a total of 247, the Indian bowlers delivered a disciplined performance as Kranti Gaud (3/20) and Deepti Sharma (3/45) led the attack to bowl Pakistan out for 159 in 43 overs.
The win marked India’s 12th triumph over Pakistan in the format and propelled them to the top of the points table. The tone was set early by the opening duo, Renuka Singh Thakur and Kranti Gaud, who maintained tight, stump-to-stump lines and extracted movement both ways. Their incisive spells left Pakistan’s top order struggling to find momentum.
Despite a determined 81 off 106 balls from Sidra Amin, who reached her fifty off 82 deliveries and survived four dropped catches, Pakistan never recovered from a sluggish start. The rest of the batting order faltered as India’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure, ensuring their unbeaten record against their arch-rivals remained intact.
Pakistan’s chase lacked conviction from the outset. Renuka and Kranti’s sharp inswingers caused early trouble, and although India missed three plumb lbw chances and burned both reviews, they stayed firmly in control. Richa Ghosh dropped two catches but the lapses did not prove costly.
One of the turning points came with Muneeba Ali’s bizarre dismissal—initially declared not out, she was run out by a direct hit from Deepti after prematurely lifting her bat. Soon after, Sadaf Shamas fell to a simple caught-and-bowled chance off Kranti, who then removed Aliya Riaz with a sharp delivery to second slip.
A brief resistance came from Sidra Amin and Natalia Pervaiz (33), who added 69 runs for the fifth wicket, capitalising on some loose fielding and an injury to N. Shree Charani. However, Kranti broke the stand when Natalia mistimed a cut to backward point, and Deepti followed up by removing Fatima Sana Khan cheaply.
Sidra continued to fight a lone battle, but once she fell for 81—sweeping to square leg off Sneh Rana—Pakistan’s resistance ended swiftly. India wrapped up the innings soon after, sealing their second consecutive win of the tournament.
Brief Scores:
India: 247 all out in 50 overs (Harleen Deol 46, Richa Ghosh 35*; Diana Baig 4/69, Fatima Sana Khan 2/38)
Pakistan: 159 all out in 43 overs (Sidra Amin 81, Natalia Pervaiz 33; Kranti Gaud 3/20, Deepti Sharma 3/45)
Result: India won by 88 runs.
