Colombo: India Women defeated Pakistan Women by 88 runs in a commanding performance at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025. The victory, propelled by crucial contributions from Harleen Deol and Kranti Goud, extended India's unblemished record against Pakistan in ODIs to 12-0.
India, after being sent in to bat, faced initial struggles on a slow track. Opener Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal forged a 48-run partnership before Pakistan's Fatima Sana dismissed Mandhana for 23. Rawal contributed 31 before being bowled by Sadia Iqbal. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur's early departure further added to India's woes, leaving the team at 106/3. Harleen Deol then steadied the innings with a patient 46 off 65 balls. Her innings included a towering six, showcasing her ability to accelerate when needed. Jemimah Rodrigues also added a valuable 32. A late surge, spearheaded by Richa Ghosh's explosive 35* off 20 balls, propelled India to a total of 247. Ghosh's innings included three fours and two sixes. Diana Baig was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers, claiming 4 wickets for 69 runs.
Pakistan's chase faltered early, with the top order collapsing to 26 for 3. Renuka Singh's relentless spell kept Pakistan behind the required run rate. Sidra Amin offered resistance, top-scoring with 81 off 106 balls. She built a 69-run partnership with Natalia Pervaiz, but once this stand was broken, Pakistan's chase unraveled. Kranti Goud led the Indian bowling attack, claiming 3 wickets for a mere 20 runs in her 10 overs. Her performance earned her the Player of the Match award. Deepti Sharma also chipped in with 3 crucial wickets, while Sneh Rana took 2.
Despite the comprehensive victory, India's fielding wasn't flawless, with a few dropped catches. Richa Ghosh, in particular, had a mixed day behind the stumps.
Kranti Goud, post-match, expressed her delight and pride, dedicating the win to her village, where a large screen was set up for the match. She also revealed a tactical discussion with captain Harmanpreet Kaur regarding field placement before dismissing Aliya Riaz.
With this win, India now sits atop the Women's World Cup points table and will play South Africa in their next match. Pakistan, however, will need to regroup and win their remaining matches to stay in contention for a semi-final spot.
