Colombo, Oct 5 (NationPress) The primary worry prior to the India-Pakistan encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium was the potential for rain, which had previously led to the cancellation of the Australia-Sri Lanka match. Fortunately, the weather remained favorable, allowing for a complete game in which India showcased their superiority over Pakistan with a decisive 88-run triumph in the 2025 Women’s World Cup on Sunday.

With a target of 247 to defend, the Indian bowlers were relentless, spearheaded by Kranti Gaud (3-20) and Deepti Sharma (3-45), who bowled out Pakistan for 159 in just 43 overs. This victory also marked India’s 12th win against Pakistan in this format, propelling them to the top of the points table in the tournament.

The stage was set by Kranti, who consistently maintained a stump-to-stump line, while Renuka Singh Thakur, alongside the young talent, extracted both swing and seam movement, leaving Pakistan’s top order scrambling for solutions.

Consequently, Pakistan found themselves lagging behind the required run rate within the first 15 overs, a shortfall they could never recover from, despite a resilient 81 runs off 106 balls from Sidra Amin. She reached her half-century in 82 balls and was reprieved four times during her innings, but received minimal assistance from her teammates as India’s bowlers tightened their grip, ensuring their unbeaten streak against their rivals remained unbroken.

Pakistan’s chase lacked conviction from the start, with the batters struggling to cope with the onslaught of inswingers from Renuka and Kranti. Despite missing three straightforward lbw opportunities and burning both reviews, India maintained the pressure, although Richa Ghosh’s two dropped catches could have made the score even worse for Pakistan.

The dismissal of Muneeba Ali was particularly unusual—initially given not out, she was run out by a direct hit from Deepti after lifting her bat from the crease. Sadaf Shamas fell to a simple caught-and-bowled dismissal by Kranti, who also had Aliya Riaz edging to second slip.

After Kranti and Renuka bowled a combined 15 overs, Natalia Pervaiz provided some resistance by lofting and sweeping Sneh Rana for two fours. Sidra then struck against the off-spinner and N Shree Charani for a six and a four. Natalia followed up with consecutive boundaries off Deepti Sharma, even as Richa dropped another catch, granting Sidra another chance.

Sidra and Natalia continued to score briskly against the spinners, especially taking advantage of some poor fielding from India and Charani being off the field after sustaining an injury while attempting to prevent a boundary. However, Kranti made the breakthrough by forcing Natalia to hit a catch to backward point, ending their 69-run partnership.

Sidra remained determined, but quick dismissals of Fatima Sana Khan, Sidra Nawaz, and Rameen Shamim followed in rapid succession. She was finally dismissed for 81 when she swept to square leg off Sneh, leading to a foregone conclusion as India secured their second consecutive win in the competition.

Earlier, India’s batting struggled, but Richa’s quickfire 35 not out pushed them to a competitive total. On a sluggish pitch, India’s innings lacked fluidity and faced challenges in rotating the strike, as Pakistan’s bowlers maintained a disciplined, wicket-to-wicket line and varied their pace effectively.

Several batters got off to starts but failed to convert their innings into significant scores, with India facing 173 dot balls. At 159/5 in the 35th over, India appeared vulnerable, especially in the absence of Amanjot Kaur. It was only in the final four overs that they added 44 runs, lending some respectability to their total.

India’s innings extended over four hours due to multiple interruptions, including a 15-minute break for pest control services. Forced to bat first, India began positively as Pratika Rawal struck a sequence of boundaries off Diana Baig.

Smriti Mandhana displayed her class with square drives and deft dabs, hitting three boundaries off Diana while surviving an lbw appeal, as replays indicated the ball pitched outside leg-stump. However, Pakistan claimed their first wicket when Fatima trapped Smriti lbw with a nip-backer, leading to a review that was unsuccessful.

Harleen Deol got into her stride with a late cut off Rameen for four, then lofted over long-on for six. Pakistan struck back when Pratika attempted to drive an arm-ball from Sadia Iqbal, only to see her off-stump shattered.

Pakistan’s disciplined bowling meant India couldn’t assert themselves. Their efforts paid off when Diana had Harmanpreet caught down leg by keeper Sidra. The pacer then dismissed Jemimah Rodrigues caught behind, but her joy turned to frustration as replays revealed she had overstepped, granting the batter a reprieve.

Jemimah scored runs through pulls, sweeps, and late cuts, surviving a near run-out after being almost three-fourths of the way down the pitch. However, Harleen, in an attempt to accelerate the scoring, holed out to long-on off Rameen for 46, leading to a brief break for pest control.

After the break, Nashra managed to trap Jemimah lbw for 32 with a delivery that dipped and straightened late. With Deepti not accelerating the innings, Sneh, surprisingly promoted ahead of Richa, struggled for rhythm and was caught at long-on off Fatima.

Diana’s return proved effective as Deepti attempted to clear the boundary but nicked behind to Sidra in a wicket maiden 46th over. Sree Charani fell to Sadia, but Richa launched two sixes and a four off the pacers before she and Kranti struck four each off the spinner.

Richa then executed a switch-hit for another four off Diana, before being dropped in a near-collision between Sidra and Natalia. While Kranti hit a four with a pull, Diana dismissed her and Renuka Singh Thakur on successive balls, leaving India three runs short of 250, a total that proved ample for a significant win over Pakistan in their fourth straight Sunday encounter.

Brief Scores: India 247 in 50 overs (Harleen Deol 46, Richa Ghosh 35 not out; Diana Baig 4-69, Fatima Sana Khan 2-38) beat Pakistan 159 in 43 overs (Sidra Amin 81, Natalia Pervaiz 33; Kranti Goud 3-20, Deepti Sharma 3-45) by 88 runs