Eight Indian batters managed to reach double figures on a slow Colombo pitch, but Harleen Deol’s 46 stood out as the highest score, helping the visitors put up a solid 247. That total proved more than enough as India’s bowlers, spearheaded by Kranti Gaud’s 3 for 20, bundled Pakistan out for 159 to secure an 88-run victory and climb to the top of the standings. Sidra Amin offered resistance with a fighting 81, but with minimal support at the other end, Pakistan fell well short, allowing India to stretch their unbeaten run against them to 12 ODIs, including five at the 50-over World Cup.
India set up a decent total
After a slightly chaotic start at the toss, Pakistan chose to field, and India’s openers Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana began confidently. Both found the boundary regularly, with Rawal taking three fours in an over off Diana Baig. Mandhana, however, lost a bit of fluency and was trapped leg-before by Fatima Sana for 23, after surviving an earlier review. By the end of 10 overs, India reached 54/1, but Pakistan’s bowlers tightened their grip soon after. Harleen Deol hit a six off Rameen Shamim, yet India managed only 13 runs in the next five overs before Sadia Iqbal bowled Rawal for 31.
Harleen then partnered Harmanpreet Kaur to rebuild the innings, though Pakistan maintained pressure with disciplined bowling. Their 39-run stand came at a modest strike rate before Baig returned to dismiss the Indian captain, caught down the leg side for 19. Baig nearly had Jemimah Rodrigues too, but an overstep saved the batter, who capitalized by striking boundaries off the free-hit and rotating the strike well with Harleen. The duo’s positive running and consistent scoring helped India cross 150 in the 33rd over before Harleen was caught at long-on for 46, giving Shamim her first wicket.
Play was temporarily interrupted by pest problems, forcing players off the field for fumigation. Once play resumed, Rodrigues fell lbw attempting a sweep to Nashra Sandhu, with Pakistan successfully reviewing the decision. India slipped to 159/5 after 35 overs, struggling to accelerate. Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma attempted to stabilize the innings but found scoring difficult, adding just 20 runs in the next five overs as Pakistan maintained tight lines and field placements to contain the flow of runs.
India managed a late revival when Rana broke her boundary drought with a cut shot off Sadia Iqbal, and Deepti followed with a four in the 43rd over. Rana added another boundary off Sana to take India past 200 before miscuing one to long-on. Deepti soon edged behind off Baig, denting India’s hopes of a big finish. Richa Ghosh, batting unusually low at No. 8, provided the much-needed late flourish with two sixes and three fours across the final overs. Despite her efforts, Baig struck twice in the last over to limit India to 247.
India bowl out Pakistan easily
Pakistan began their chase cautiously, with Renuka Thakur—replacing the unwell Amanjot Kaur—and Kranti Gaud maintaining a tight, probing line, allowing only six runs in the first four overs. India lost a review off the very first ball and became hesitant to challenge future decisions, missing out on three possible lbw chances. The breakthrough came when Muneeba Ali was run out for just 2, lifting her bat prematurely as Deepti Sharma’s throw hit the stumps. Sidra Amin struck the first boundary in the fifth over, survived a missed catch, and watched Gaud remove Sadaf Shamas with a return catch. Another drop off Thakur added to Amin’s fortune, but Pakistan still struggled, reaching only 25 runs in their first 10 overs.
India burned their final review unsuccessfully on a leg-side caught-behind, but continued to strike, with Gaud sending Aliya Riaz to second slip in a wicket-maiden. Thakur followed with a maiden, and the new-ball pair completed 15 overs with just 30 runs conceded. Pakistan finally found a release in the 16th over when Natalia Pervaiz hit two fours off Sneh Rana. Amin was dropped again before hitting Pakistan’s first six against India in ODI history. The spinners allowed some freedom, enabling Amin and Pervaiz to add a fifty partnership and reach 84/3 at the halfway mark. Gaud’s return ended that stand, Sana laboured to 2 off 15 before Deepti removed her, leaving Pakistan struggling at 102/5.
Amin reached her half-century off 82 balls and partnered Sidra Nawaz for a quick 41-run stand, but Nawaz’s miscued shot back to Rana sparked another collapse. Deepti bowled Shamim, and Rana dismissed Amin for 81 attempting a scoop, extinguishing Pakistan’s hopes. The last wickets slid away, with Diana Baig run out and Sadia Iqbal caught off Deepti, sealing India’s comprehensive win. The players left the field without exchanging handshakes, as India extended their dominance over Pakistan.
Brief scores: India 247 in 50 overs (Harleen Deol 46, Richa Ghosh 35*; Diana Baig 4-69, Fatima Sana 2-38) beat Pakistan 159 in 43 overs (Sidra Amin 81, Natalia Pervaiz 33; Kranti Gaud 3-20, Deepti Sharma 3-45) by 88 runs.