Relentless India Edges Past Pakistan to Preserve Unbeaten ODI World Cup Streak

In their World Cup league fixture, India secured an 88-run victory over Pakistan, extending their dominant head-to-head record to 12-0. However, the match at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday didn’t showcase India’s best performance. Pakistan opted to field first, aiming for a target of around 250 to achieve their first win against Harmanpreet Kaur’s team in the tournament. A combined effort from their five-bowler attack, with Diana Baig taking four wickets, limited India to 247 runs. Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal tried to make early breakthroughs, focusing on the Indian top order.

Despite a shaky start with Smriti Mandhana’s early dismissal, India’s batting lineup struggled to maintain momentum, with issues in strike rotation and boundary scoring. Harleen Deol and Pratika Rawal couldn’t uplift the run rate, and even though Harmanpreet Kaur showed promise, she was eventually subdued. The match was delayed multiple times due to a persistent bug infestation, requiring fumigation. Contributions from Jemimah Rodrigues, with a crucial 37-ball 32, and a quick 35 from Richa Ghosh helped India post a competitive total.

In their chase, Pakistan’s Sidra Amin put in a determined effort against the tall target, frustrating the Indian bowlers. However, despite her 106-ball 80, Pakistan’s resilience crumbled after her dismissal, and the tailenders couldn’t seal the win. The match highlighted India’s challenges in strike rotation and raised questions about the batting lineup’s strength, while showcasing Richa Ghosh’s impressive wicketkeeping. Pakistan’s valiant efforts exposed vulnerabilities in India’s arsenal, signaling to the rest of the field that India’s formidable lineup isn’t invincible.

Published on Oct 05, 2025