Colombo, Oct 5 (NationPress) India has showcased their supremacy over Pakistan in women's ODIs with a decisive 88-run victory during the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup held at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. Setting a target of 247, the Indian bowlers displayed relentless determination, with Kranti Gaud (3-20) and Deepti Sharma (3-45) spearheading the effort to dismiss Pakistan for 159 in 43 overs.

This result signifies India’s 12th triumph over Pakistan in this format, propelling them to the summit of the points table in the tournament. The opening bowlers set the stage for India, with both Renuka Singh Thakur and Kranti Gaud maintaining an impeccable stump-to-stump line, extracting both swing and seam movement that left Pakistan’s top order floundering.

Consequently, Pakistan fell behind the required run rate within the first 15 overs, a shortfall they could never recover from, despite a valiant 81 runs off 106 balls from Sidra Amin. She reached her half-century in 82 balls and was dropped four times during her innings, yet received minimal backing from the rest of the batting order as India’s bowlers tightened the grip, ensuring their undefeated record against their rivals remained unblemished.

The pursuit from Pakistan lacked conviction from the outset, with the batters struggling to cope with the torrent of inswingers from Renuka and Kranti. Despite missing three clear lbw opportunities and burning both reviews, India maintained pressure - though two dropped catches by Richa Ghosh could have made the scoreline less daunting.

Muneeba Ali’s run-out was particularly strange - initially given not out, she was run out by a direct hit from Deepti after lifting her bat post grounding it. Sadaf Shamas soon followed, dismissed cheaply through a caught-and-bowled by Kranti. The young pacer struck again as Aliya Riaz edged to second slip, leading to further disintegration of Pakistan’s innings.

Following 15 overs from Kranti and Renuka, Natalia Pervaiz briefly injected some momentum, lofting and sweeping Sneh Rana for two fours, before Sidra struck against the off-spinner and N Shree Charani for six and four. Natalia then hit consecutive boundaries off Deepti Sharma, while Richa squandered another chance allowing Sidra an escape.

After the duo crossed the fifty partnership mark, Sidra and Natalia continued to score briskly against the spinners, especially with India’s fielding faltering and Charani off the field after sustaining an injury while attempting to save a boundary.

However, Kranti struck a crucial blow, inducing Natalia to hit the ground and was caught at backward point, concluding the 69-run partnership. One wicket led to another as Deepti had a struggling Fatima Sana Khan caught at long-off.

Sidra continued her fighting innings, even as Sidra Nawaz and Rameen Shamim fell quickly. Ultimately, Sidra was 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 tournament.

Brief scores:

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