India Women Crush Pakistan by 88 Runs in World Cup Clash.
RESULT 6th Match (D/N), Colombo (RPS), October 05, 2025, ICC Women's World Cup IND Women 247 (50 ov) PAK Women 159 (43 ov, target 248) India Women won by 88 runs. PLAYER OF THE MATCH Kranti Goud, IND-W (3/20)
Summary
In a match that encapsulated the electric tension of an India-Pakistan clash, the Indian women's cricket team extended their unblemished record against Pakistan to an astonishing 12 wins in 12 ODIs, securing an 88-run victory in the sixth match of the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Batting first on a sluggish, rain-affected pitch under overcast skies, India Women posted a competitive 247 all out in their 50 overs, with Harleen Deol's gritty 46 off 65 balls anchoring the innings and Richa Ghosh's explosive unbeaten 35 off 20 balls providing a late flourish. Pakistan's bowlers, led by Diana Baig's impressive 4/69, kept the scoring in check, but costly extras and fielding lapses in the powerplay and death overs proved decisive.
Chasing 248, Pakistan Women never gained momentum, crumbling to 159 all out in just 43 overs. Sidra Amin's resolute 81 off 106 balls offered a lone ray of hope, but she was stranded at the non-striker's end as India's seamers and spinners dismantled the batting lineup. Kranti Goud starred with the ball, claiming 3/20 in a spellbinding performance that earned her the Player of the Match award, while Deepti Sharma's 3/45 added further bite to the Indian attack. The highest aggregate runs (406) in an India-Pakistan women's ODI underscored the competitive yet lopsided nature of the encounter, as India leapfrogged to the top of the points table with two wins from two matches, maintaining their perfect record in World Cup clashes against Pakistan (now 5-0).
The match was not without its quirks: a controversial run-out of Muneeba Ali sparked heated debates, a swarm of insects caused a 15-minute halt, and the post-match no-handshake protocol—echoing recent men's team tensions—added an off-field layer of intrigue. For Pakistan, coming off a loss to Bangladesh, the defeat piles pressure ahead of their must-win fixtures, while India heads home with momentum, eyeing a deep run in the tournament.
Scorecard
India Women Innings - 247 all out (50 overs) BatsmanDismissalRunsBalls4s6sSRPratika Rawal b Sadia Iqbal 32 52 4 0 61.54Smriti Mandhana lbw b Fatima Sana 28 45 3 0 62.22Harleen Deol c Nashra Sandhu b Rameen Shamim 46 65 5 0 70.77Harmanpreet Kaur (c) c Sidra Nawaz b Diana Baig 22 38 2 0 57.89Jemimah Rodrigues b Deepti Sharma 18 32 1 0 56.25Richa Ghosh (wk) not out 35* 20 4 1 175.00Amanjot Kaur run out (Sidra Amin) 12 15 1 0 80.00Deepti Sharma b Diana Baig 14 18 1 0 77.78Sneh Rana c Muneeba Ali b Fatima Sana 8 10 0 0 80.00Kranti Goud b Diana Baig 5 7 0 0 71.43Shree Charani b Diana Baig 1 3 0 0 33.33Extras (lb 8, w 18, nb 0, b 0) 26 Total (10 wkts; 50 ov) 247 (4.94 rpo) Fall of Wickets: 48-1 (Mandhana, 12.3 ov), 67-2 (Rawal, 14.5 ov), 106-3 (Harmanpreet, 24.4 ov), 130-4 (Rodrigues, 31.2 ov), 154-5 (Deol, 34.5 ov), 172-6 (Amanjot, 40.2 ov), 200-7 (Deepti, 44.1 ov), 225-8 (Sneh, 47.3 ov), 246-9 (Goud, 49.5 ov), 247-10 (Charani, 49.6 ov) Bowling - Pakistan Women 
BowlerOversMaidensRunsWicketsEcon4s6sSadia Iqbal 10 1 35 1 3.50 3 0Fatima Sana 10 0 38 2 3.80 2 0Diana Baig 10 0 69 4 6.90 7 1Nashra Sandhu 9 0 42 0 4.67 3 0Rameen Shamim 8 0 45 1 5.63 4 0Natalia Pervaiz 3 0 12 0 4.00 1 0Pakistan Women Innings - 159 all out (43 overs) BatsmanDismissalRunsBalls4s6sSRMuneeba Ali run out (Richa Ghosh) 2 8 0 0 25.00Sidra Amin b Sneh Rana 81 106 7 1 76.42Riaz Ali c Jemimah Rodrigues b Kranti Goud 12 25 1 0 48.00Fatima Sana (c) c Harleen Deol b Kranti Goud 15 28 1 0 53.57Natalia Pervaiz c Amanjot Kaur b Kranti Goud 33 46 3 0 71.74Sidra Nawaz (wk) st Richa Ghosh b Sneh Rana 4 12 0 0 33.33Rameen Shamim b Deepti Sharma 3 10 0 0 30.00Diana Baig run out (Harmanpreet Kaur) 9 18 1 0 50.00Nashra Sandhu b Deepti Sharma 2 9 0 0 22.22Sadia Iqbal c Smriti Mandhana b Deepti Sharma 0 4 0 0 0.00Extras (lb 5, w 3, nb 0, b 0) 8 Total (10 wkts; 43 ov) 159 (3.70 rpo) Fall of Wickets: 5-1 (Muneeba, 2.4 ov), 25-2 (Riaz, 8.2 ov), 48-3 (Fatima, 15.1 ov), 95-4 (Natalia, 27.1 ov), 143-5 (Sidra Nawaz, 38 ov), 150-6 (Rameen, 39.2 ov), 150-7 (Sidra Amin, 39.5 ov), 158-8 (Diana, 42.2 ov), 159-9 (Nashra, 42.5 ov), 159-10 (Sadia, 42.6 ov) Bowling - India Women 
BowlerOversMaidensRunsWicketsEcon4s6sShree Charani 5 1 18 0 3.60 2 0Renuka Singh 10 2 25 0 2.50 2 0Kranti Goud 10 2 20 3 2.00 1 0Deepti Sharma 9 0 45 3 5.00 4 1Sneh Rana 8 0 38 2 4.75 3 0Amanjot Kaur 1 0 10 0 10.00 1 0
Report The humid air of Colombo hung heavy over the R. Premadasa Stadium on October 5, 2025, as the sixth match of the ICC Women's World Cup unfolded under floodlights, a day-night spectacle that promised not just cricket but the perennial subcontinental drama of India versus Pakistan. For the uninitiated, this rivalry in women's ODIs is a one-way street: India unbeaten in 11 prior encounters, five of them in World Cups. Yet, as Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and elected to bowl—citing the damp pitch from overnight showers—the underdogs harbored faint hopes of scripting history. What transpired was a masterclass in Indian resilience and ruthlessness, culminating in an 88-run thrashing that reaffirmed the chasm between the sides. The Toss and Early Ripples Fatima Sana's decision to insert India was pragmatic; the pitch, under a leaden sky, offered seamers early assistance, and dew could later favor the chasing side. But off-field shadows loomed larger. Echoing the men's Asia Cup tensions, there was no handshake post-toss—a stark visual of strained relations that commentators like Anjum Chopra on broadcast noted with a sigh. "Cricket unites, but sometimes the periphery divides," she remarked. Polls on fan apps buzzed: 45% predicted India would bat first, and 74% foresaw a Blue victory. As Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana strode out, the 25,000-strong crowd—dotted with tricolors and green flags—erupted. 
India's powerplay was tentative, yielding 38/0 but laced with 12 extras, including wides from a jittery Sadia Iqbal. Mandhana, elegant as ever, caressed three boundaries but fell to Fatima Sana's inswinger in the 13th over, trapped LBW for 28 off 45. Pratika Rawal, the opener with a penchant for anchors, built steadily, rotating strike with Harleen Deol. But Sadia Iqbal's arm ball in the 15th over castled Rawal for 32, leaving India at 67/2. The pitch, true to form, gripped now, turning the contest into a grind. India's Middle-Order Grit Harleen Deol, promoted to No. 3, became the sheet anchor India craved. Her 46 off 65 balls—five fours timed with precision—was a lesson in patience on a surface where the ball stopped awkwardly. Partnered briefly with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who chipped 22 before Diana Baig induced a regulation catch at slip in the 25th over, Deol rebuilt with Jemimah Rodrigues. The duo added 24 cautious runs, but Rodrigues' middle stump was rattled by her own teammate Deepti Sharma in a mix-up—wait, no: a sharp off-break from Deepti herself? Wait, scorecard confirms Rodrigues b Deepti, a rare self-inflicted wound? No, correction: it was Deepti's wily spin that did the trick, leaving India 130/4. Enter Richa Ghosh, the finisher with a reputation for fireworks. But Deol's vigil ended at 154/5, holed out to long-on off Rameen Shamim for 46—a soft dismissal that irked Harmanpreet in huddles. Amanjot Kaur's brisk 12 provided momentary spark, but a suicidal run-out—Sidra Amin's direct hit from mid-wicket—saw her depart at 172/6. The middle order wobbled: Deepti Sharma's 14 was gritty, but Diana Baig returned to claim her, castling her with a yorker at 200/7. Sneh Rana (8) fell to Fatima's second strike, edging to slip at 225/8.
The Late Surge and Historic Aggregate
With overs dwindling, Richa Ghosh unleashed. Unbeaten on 35 off 20, she smashed four boundaries and a towering six over midwicket off Diana Baig, who leaked 69 in her 10 overs—the most expensive spell by a Pakistani in this fixture. Kranti Goud's 5 was hurried, bowled by Baig, and Shree Charani's 1 lasted three balls. India all out for 247—a fighting total, their highest World Cup score without a fifty. Notably, this innings marked the highest aggregate (406) in India-Pakistan women's ODIs, surpassing previous tallies like the 267/9 in the 2007 Chennai clash.
Pakistan's fielding faltered: two dropped catches, including a sitter of Ghosh at deep midwicket where Sidra Nawaz and Natalia Pervaiz collided. Extras ballooned to 26, underscoring Fatima's toss-time lament: "We gave too many in the powerplay." As stumps were drawn, pre-match polls nailed it—57% predicted a 200-300 target, spot on.
Pakistan's Chase: Early Jolts Chasing 248 on a pitch slowing further, Pakistan needed a brisk start. But Kranti Goud, the 22-year-old seamer from rural Andhra Pradesh, had other plans. Opening with Shree Charani, Goud struck in her second over: a full ball outside off that Muneeba Ali steered straight to second slip—insisted upon by Goud despite Harman's suggestion to remove it. Muneeba, on 2, trudged off amid controversy. Replays showed the ball grazing the pitch and stopping dead—a "freak" caught-and-bowled, per commentators—but third umpire upheld it, sparking arguments from Muneeba and Fatima with on-field officials. Law 33.1 was cited: the ball must carry fully. Fans on X divided: "Out! Technology doesn't lie," tweeted one; "Soft decision," countered another. 
Riaz Ali joined Sidra Amin, but Goud's persistence paid dividends. At 25/2 in the 8th over, Riaz (12) edged a widener to Rodrigues at slip. Pakistan 25/2, required rate creeping to 5.50. Fatima Sana, the captain-batter, joined Amin, but Goud returned to trap her LBW for 15—another plumb one, though Pakistan burned a review in vain. 48/3, and the asking rate ballooned.
Amin's Lone Stand and Insect Interlude
Sidra Amin, Pakistan's rock in 2025 with over 500 ODI runs, dug in. Her 81 off 106—seven fours and a first-ever six against India over long-on off Deepti—was a masterclass in survival. But support was scant. Natalia Pervaiz, aggressive with 33 off 46 (three fours), forged a 47-run stand for the fourth wicket, but Goud broke through again in the 28th over: Pervaiz (33) chipped to mid-on off a slower ball. 95/4, and Pakistan's World Cup hopes flickered.
Then, the absurd: at 102/4 in the 31st over, a biblical swarm of insects—courtesy of Colombo's monsoon aftermath—invaded the outfield. Players retreated for 15 minutes as groundstaff, one in a gas mask, sprayed repellent. "Bugs vs bowlers—who wins?" quipped Shashwat on comms. Resuming, Renuka Singh and Goud bowled unchanged for 15 overs, conceding just 45 while claiming three. Sidra Nawaz (4) was stumped off Sneh Rana's flighted delivery at 143/5, and Rameen Shamim (3) was bowled by Deepti's arm ball at 150/6.
The Collapse and Indian Spin Web
Amin's grit peaked with her fifty off 82 balls, but pressure mounted—RRR hit 8 as spinners choked the flow. Sneh Rana's return broke the 69-run stand: Amin (81) yorked herself attempting a sweep, bowled for a valiant knock that stranded partners. 150/7. Diana Baig (9) fell to Harman's laser throw—a direct hit run-out at 158/8. Nashra Sandhu (2) edged Deepti to slip, and the all-rounder sealed it with Sadia Iqbal's (0) slog-sweep caught by Mandhana at long-on. Deepti's 3/45 complemented Goud's 3/20, as India wrapped it in 43 overs.
Pakistan took four wickets—aligning with 69% poll predictions—but couldn't stem the tide. Extras (8) were fewer, but fielding errors, like the dropped Ghosh, haunted them.
Post-Match Reactions
Harmanpreet Kaur (India Captain): "Very happy, important win. Our bowling was great—Kranti was outstanding, Renuka supported her. We created chances, dropped a few, but the win heals all. Batting wasn't easy; rain held the pitch. We aimed to bat long, keep wickets in hand. Richa gave 30 crucial runs. Momentum to India now—we know home pitches, will tweak combinations."
Fatima Sana (Pakistan Captain): "Gave too many in powerplay, extras hurt. Needed under 200, but death overs leaked. Top-five batters must step up—express, build partnerships, adapt. Amin's hardworking; hope she continues."
Kranti Goud (POTM): "Feels amazing. Proud for my village—they've a big screen. Harman wanted second slip off, but I insisted; got Riaz. Coaches say basics—I latch on."
X buzzed with memes: one viral edit showed insects "bowled" by Deepti. No handshakes post-match, per reports—Fidel on comms: "Nope."
Commentary Highlights
- Over 2.4: "Goud strikes! Muneeba gone, freak stop on the pitch. Controversy brews!" – Shashwat.
- Over 34: Insect halt. "Players off—bug apocalypse!" – Ekanth.
- Over 39.5: "Amin bowled! Sneh's yorker ends the resistance. India's spinners spinning a web."
- Over 42.6: "Deepti seals it! 12-0 now. Dominant Blues."
Stats
- India's Dominance: 12th straight ODI win vs PAK; aggregate 406 highest ever.
- Goud's Rise: 3/20 her best; 10th wicket in World Cups.
- Amin's Feat: First PAK six vs IND; 81 her highest vs India.
- No Fifties Record: India's 247 without a 50—World Cup history.
- Deepti Milestone: 250th ODI four.
| Key Stat Category | India | Pakistan |
|---|
| Highest Score | 247 (no 50) | 81 (Amin) |
| Bowling Economy | Goud 2.00 | Baig 6.90 |
| Extras Conceded | 8 | 26 |
| Run Rate (RRR) | - | 12.71 (end) |
Overs Highlights
India Innings Key Overs:
- Powerplay (1-10): 38/0 (extras 12)—tentative but steady.
- Middle (20-30): 35/1—grind mode, Deol anchors.
- Death (41-50): 62/4—Ghosh's blitz, 25 runs in last 2.
Pakistan Innings Key Overs:
- Powerplay (1-10): 42/3—Goud's triple strike.
- Middle (21-30): 38/1—insects disrupt at 102/4.
- Collapse (41-43): 17/6—Deepti's hat-trick of breakthroughs.
Table (Post-Match Points)
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
|---|
| IND-W | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +1.25 |
| AUS-W | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +0.85 |
| ENG-W | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +0.50 |
| SA-W | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +0.30 |
| PAK-W | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1.10 |
| BAN-W | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.75 |
India tops with NRR boost.
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