In a thrilling ICC Women’s World Cup match on Sunday, India’s women’s cricket team triumphed over rivals Pakistan by 88 runs, showcasing a blend of composure and aggression with the bat and precision with the ball. Harleen Deol and Richa Ghosh stood out as key players, leading their team to victory at the WACA Ground in Perth.
India set a target of 247 runs after being put to bat first. Despite initial confusion surrounding the toss, which Pakistan errantly won and chose to field, India capitalized on the opportunity. Harleen Deol anchored the innings with a steady 46 off 65 balls, while Ghosh provided a thrilling finish with her quick-fire 35 off 20 balls, steeling India to a total of 247 all out.
Bowling-wise, Kranti Gaud impressed with a spectacular 3 wickets for 20 runs, unsettling the Pakistani batting line-up early. Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani contributed significantly as well, clinching 3/45 and 2/38 respectively, further tightening India’s grip on the game.
Pakistan’s chase faltered from the outset, as Muneeba Ali had a comical run-out, which set the tone for the innings. Sidra Amin fought valiantly with a top score of 81 off 106 balls, but her efforts weren’t enough to prevent Pakistan from collapsing to 159 all out in just 43 overs.
The match buzzed with unique incidents—from the confused toss to a bizarre incident involving a swarm of bugs that delayed play for almost 15 minutes. Notably, India maintained their “no handshake” policy during this intense encounter, a move that continued to spark discussions among fans and analysts alike.
The chase began disastrously for Pakistan as Gaud dismantled their top order, leaving them teetering at 26 for 3. The brief resistance of 69 runs between Amin and Natalia Pervaiz, who added 33 runs to the score, proved futile once India’s bowlers regained full control.
India’s innings, led by Deol’s stability and Ghosh’s late fireworks, showcased effective batting strategies in a difficult batting environment. Pratika Rawal supported the innings with 31 runs, pushing the scoreboard with explosive play.
Notably, Diana Baig, with figures of 4 wickets for 69 runs, and Fatima Sana, with 2 wickets for 38 runs, executed an impressive bowling display to keep the Indian batting in check for most of the game.
As the match concluded, India’s bowlers showcased ruthlessness, closing out Pakistan’s innings without yielding much fight from the lower order, thus securing a firm victory and maintaining their flawless history against Pakistan in One Day Internationals, now extended to 12-0.
Brief Scores:
India Women: 247 all out in 50 overs (Harleen Deol 46, Richa Ghosh 35*, Jemimah Rodrigues 32; Diana Baig 4/69, Fatima Sana 2/38).
Pakistan Women: 159 all out in 43 overs (Sidra Amin 81; Kranti Gaud 3/20, Deepti Sharma 3/45, Shree Charani 2/38).
Result: India won by 88 runs.