- India won the ICC Women's World Cup clash in Colombo against Pakistan by 88 runs
- India's Deepti Sharma led a team of spinners who were a big part of India's victory
Pakistan's Sidra Amin made a record-breaking individual score for a Pakistani batswoman against India in women's ODIs, but India's robust performance, especially from their spinners, aided them in their win by 88 runs in their ICC Women's World Cup match at Colombo on Sunday.
With this victory, India stands at a flawless 5-0 versus Pakistan in Women's World Cups and 12-0 overall women's ODIs unbeaten.
While Pakistan held India to 247, becoming the first team to bowl India out in ODIs with Diana Baig's four-wicket haul (4/69), Amin's 81-run contribution found minimal assistance from her teammates.
Pakistan was dismissed for 159 in 43 overs, with Kranti Goud (3/20) and Deepti Sharma (3/45) spearheading the Indian bowling attack.
While Pakistan was chasing 248, they were left at 26/3 in 12 overs due to Kranti's initial breakthroughs. A fourth-wicket stand of 69 runs between Sidra and Natalia Pervaiz (33) provided some resistance, and then a 41-run sixth-wicket stand with Sidra Nawaz (14).
But India's spinners, which included Deepti and Sneh (2/38), effectively suppressed Pakistan's middle and lower order, picking five wickets in total, while India's pacers picked three.
After this match, India leads the table with six points from four games (two victories, two defeats), while Pakistan stands at sixth position with two defeats. The two teams did not shake hands after the match.
Earlier in the series, Diana's 4/69 from 10 overs was the record World Cup pacer figures for a Pakistani after they dismissed India for 247 in 50 overs. India's score was the highest women's ODI score without a 50-plus score, surpassing their 227 against New Zealand in Ahmedabad last year.
India received 173 dot balls in the innings, the tournaments highest and the second-highest in 34 ODIs since January 2023.
Opener Pratika Rawal (31) and Smriti Mandhana (23) shared a stand of 48 for the first wicket. Middle-order batswomen Harleen Deol (46), Jemimah Rodrigues (32), Deepti Sharma (25), and Sneh Rana (20) all contributed but failed to make their starts count into enough scores.
Richa Ghosh played a flashy 35 off 20 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes and took India to their total of 247/10.
For Pakistan, apart from Diana, Sadia Iqbal (2/47) and skipper Fatima Sana (2/38) also picked up wickets.
