The action will continue in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 as Australia Women will take on Pakistan Women in Match No. 9 at R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, on October 8, 2025. Australia come into the game as strong favourites and defending champions, led by captain Alyssa Healy. They have displayed impressive form so far, including a big win against New Zealand and a high team total of over 300 in the tournament.
Pakistan, captained by Fatima Sana, are struggling in this edition of the tournament and are at the bottom of the points table after consecutive losses to Bangladesh and India. They will be eager to bounce back and clinch crucial points in this encounter.
As tempting as it may be to assume, the result of no cricket match is a foregone conclusion – even when Australia play. There’s undeniably an inevitability to it, that’s just how good Australia are, but even the greatest giants have been taken down before. That’s what Pakistan will have to believe when they take on the mighty Aussies in their third World Cup game.
AUS – W vs PAK -W : Previous Performances
On the surface, Australia might seem unbeatable. A line-up of real superstars, unmatched experience, a batting order that never seems to end and a fearsome bowling attack – overwhelming indeed, particularly for a side like Pakistan that are still trying to find their feet in this tournament. Look closer, however, and Australia might not be as invincible as they seem.
While an Ash Gardner special rescued them after a batting collapse in their opening fixture against New Zealand, it was their third in the recent past, including one against India in the series prior and another against England during the warmups. If Australia do have such a thing as an Achilles’ heel, it might be a batting unit that’s a little short of confidence.
Australia is coming into the game with an impressive win in their opening fixture against New Zealand. However, their last fixture against Sri Lanka was washed out, resulting in both teams sharing a point. The Alyssa Healy-led team is ranked second on the points table and will look to add another win to their name.
On the other hand, Pakistan Women are coming into the game having lost their previous two fixtures against Bangladesh and India, respectively. They find themselves languishing at the bottom of the points table. The Fatima Sana-led team will look to rise higher on the tally and gain crucial two points in the upcoming fixture.
Pakistan, though, are no different. They’re languishing at the bottom of the table after two heavy defeats. First, they were shocked by Bangladesh as Marufa Akter and the spinners ran through their order. Then, they suffered a familiar, crippling dissection at the hands of India. While the bowling unit, led by Fatima Sana and Diana Baig, has impressed, the batters have not held up their end of the bargain.
AUS – W vs PAK – W : Head to Head
Pakistan have never beaten Australia in ODIs. The record stands 16-0 overall and 5-0 in World Cups.
| Matches Played | 16 |
| AUS W Won | 16 |
| PAK W Won | 00 |
| No Result | 00 |
| First Fixture | February 7, 1997 (AUS W Won) |
| Last Fixture | January 21, 2023 (AUS W Won) |
AUS – W vs PAK -W : Pitch and Weather Report
The R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo offers a balanced pitch that is generally flat in nature, providing consistent bounce early on. However, as the match progresses, the surface tends to deteriorate, favouring spinners due to slower and grippier conditions. This will make spin bowling a significant factor in the middle overs. Pace bowlers are likely to get limited assistance from swing or seam on this subcontinental track, especially under day-night conditions.
The R. Premadasa Stadium is known to favor batters, with many high-scoring matches played at the venue. However, fast bowlers can exploit some help early on, while the spinners will come into play as the game progresses. Rain has been pestering Colombo and its surrounding suburbs over the past week, but Wednesday should arrive with clear, if cloudy, tidings. The pitch at the Khettarama has stayed true to form in the first two games its hosted at this World Cup, making life tricky for batters – expect that to stay the same.
While the surfaces at Colombo have been low and slow, the quicker bowlers have enjoyed some assistance with the new ball. The average first innings score here has been 256 in 9 ODIs since 2023.
AUS -W vs PAK -W : Big Picture : Australia 16 : Pakistan 0 : Winless Pakistan have uphill task of facing near-invincible Australia
Pakistan have never beaten Australia in any format of women’s international cricket. And if that trend continues on Wednesday, their path forward in the ODI World Cup will become very complicated given they have already lost their opening two matches to Bangladesh and India. What might be even more concerning for Pakistan is that in 16 ODIs against Australia, they’ve not even come close to victory, with the narrowest margins of defeat being 37 runs and four wickets, both way back in 2014.
Pakistan’s most recent contest against Australia, a three-match rubber in 2023, had these results: eight-wicket defeat, 10-wicket defeat, 101-run defeat. And while they are also yet to beat India (12 tries) or England (15 tries) in women’s ODIs, their 16 defeats to Australia make them, statistically, the toughest opponent.
All this is to say that Pakistan have a considerable mountain ahead of them. As for Australia, their opening game against New Zealand was an ultimately comfortable win, and their second against Sri Lanka was washed out. They are also a team in near-invincible form. In 32 matches since the last World Cup, they’ve won 27 and lost just four. Pakistan in that same period have played 34 ODIs, won 13 and lost 18.
So what exactly are the straws Pakistan might look to clutch here? One, Australia haven’t played since October 1 as a result of their washout against Sri Lanka. They are also yet to play at the R Premadasa stadium, where conditions don’t necessarily seem conducive to free-flowing batting. With Pakistan already having experienced these conditions in their defeat to India, there could be an advantage to be exploited. Finally, Pakistan will be hoping the law of averages catches up and gives them the crucial win and points that they need.
AUS – W vs PAK – W : In the Spotlight : Nashra Sandhu and Beth Mooney
Since the 2022 World Cup, no Pakistani bowler has picked up more wickets than spinner Nashra Sandhu – her 42 strikes in this period coming from 28 matches. But more interestingly her 248.1 overs are the sixth-most bowled by any bowler in the last three and a half years. This serves to highlight just how much Pakistan lean on Sandhu.
This year has also been her most impactful one – she’s picked up 17 wickets in 10 games, including a six-wicket haul against South Africa. The only thing is, in her past five matches, she’s gone wicketless three times. Pakistan will need her at her best if they are to upset Australia.
You’d be hard pressed to find a team Beth Mooney doesn’t like batting against, but even so, her ODI record against Pakistan is better than most. Across eight innings she’s struck 279 runs at an average of 69.75, an average that has been boosted by the fact that she’s only been dismissed four times. Mooney’s recent form too has been ominous, with a century and two fifties across her last five innings.
AUS – W vs PAK -W : Vital stats that matters
- This will be Australia’s first women’s ODI in Colombo since 2016
- Only against Ireland (17-0) do Australia hold a more dominant ODI record than the one they have against Pakistan
- Australia have won their last 10 completed Women’s World Cup matches
- Annabel Sutherland is four away from 50 WODI wickets
AUS – W vs PAK -W : Team News for Australia and Pakistan
Australia :Â
The Alyssa Healy-led side may consider playing an additional spinner at Colombo.With a week’s break since their last game, Australia will be itching to get out on the field. Their biggest dilemma is down to healthy competition, as it remains to be seen if Darcie Brown continues to keep Megan Schutt out of the XI.
Probable Playing XI for Australia : Alyssa Healy(w/c), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Kim Garth/Georgia Wareham, Darcie Brown
Pakistan :Â
Although they have lost both their games, Fatima Sana’s team are likely refrain from making changes.Omaima Sohail was replaced at the top of the order by Sadaf Shamas last time out, but with both openers struggling Sohail might find herself back in the side.
Probable Playing XI for Pakistan : Muneeba Ali, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana(c), Sidra Nawaz(w), Rameen Shamim, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal
AUS – W vs PAK -W : Probable Top Performers
Probable Best Batter: Ashleigh Gardner
Ashleigh Gardner is the second-highest run scorer of the tournament with 115 runs to her name from one inning at an average of 115.00. The Australian batter smashed a brilliant ton in their opening game against New Zealand. Gardner will look to continue her marvellous form in the upcoming fixture as well.
Probable Best Bowler: Diana Baig
Pakistan pacer Diana Baig could be the best bowler in the upcoming game against the Australian team. The right-arm seamer has bagged five wickets from two innings at an average of 16.60 and an economy of 4.61. She bowled a sensational spell of 4/69 against India in the previous fixture and will look to bowl another solid spell in the upcoming fixture.
AUS – W vs PAK – W : Match Prediction
Australia’s squad boasts a combination of experienced players like Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, and Megan Schutt, along with young talents such as Darcie Brown and Phoebe Litchfield. Their bowling attack is well balanced with pace and spin options, including Schutt and Sophie Molineux, who is adapting well to the conditions. Pakistan’s side includes key players like Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Diana Baig, and Omaima Sohail, who will need to step up for the team to challenge the reigning champions.
Australia are expected to continue their dominant streak in this tournament with their robust batting and versatile bowling, while Pakistan will look to improve their performance and show resilience against a tough opponent. This match will serve as a vital test of Pakistan’s ability to compete at the highest level, while Australia aim to maintain momentum and consolidate their position in the tournament.If Australia turn up at their best and Pakistan don’t, this could end up being one of the most lopsided contests of the tournament.
Also Read: Women’s ODI World Cup 2025: A Plot Twist No One Saw Coming