Kranti Goud bowled well with the new ball and got early wickets after the first wicket fell via a run out. India bowled well with good discipline today and got their first wicket via a run out. Then two more wickets fell as Shadaf and Riaz went cheaply to leave Pakistan in tatters. But Sidra and Natalia steadied the ship and were helped by dropped catches of India to take Pakistan forward.
Disciplined India restricts Pakistan to 25/2 in the first 10 overs
Chasing 248 for the win, Muneeba Ali and Shadaf Shamas walked out to bat for Pakistan while Renuka Singh Thakur had ball in hand for India. India burnt a review against Muneeba in the first ball for caught behind as the ball missed the bat. Thakur bowled a decent first over. Kranti Goud took the ball from the other end. She too kept things tight. Thakur too kept it under check. Then Muneeba was run out under controversial circumstances as she was short of her ground and after much consultation, she was given OUT for 2 off 12 balls.
Sidra Ameen came out to bat next. Ameen broke the shackles as she opened the face of the bat and guided it down to short third for a boundary. Goud continued as Ameen got an edge and past Ghosh and Rana for a boundary. India missed out on review against Ameen as they did no review despite ball tracking showing otherwise. Thakur continued and bowled a decent over.
Goud then got her first wicket as she dismissed Shadaf Shamas for 6 off 24 balls. She bowled it full on the leg stump, Shamas looked to flick but was late on the shot. The ball lobbed up in the air and off the splice of the bat to go straight back towards Kranti Goud who pouched it safely off her own bowling. Aliya Riaz came out to bat next.
Thakur continued and induced the edge of Ameen to Richa Ghosh who put down a sitter. Goud continued and bear Riaz all ends up. After 10 overs, Pakistan were struggling at 25/2 and with a lot of work to do.
Riaz falls, but Pakistan keep the fight going to take the score to 57/3 in 20 overs
Thakur continued as Ameen survived a run out scare. India lost both their reviews as another caught behind down the leg side was turned down and India had 0 reviews left. Goud then dismissed Riaz for 2 off 8 balls. Goud from over the wicket bowled a length ball outside off-stump. Riaz opened the face of the bat and guided it straight to Deepti Sharma at second slip where she took an easy catch. Natalia Pervaiz came out to bat next. Drinks was taken after 12 overs with the score at 26/3.
Thakur continued and bowled a maiden over. Goud too gave away only a couple of runs to the Pakistan side. Thakur continued and kept the score under check. Sneh Rana came into the attack next. Pervaiz broke the shackles as she stepped down the track and reached to the pitch of the ball and lofted over the bowler’s head for a boundary. Natalia hit another boundary by sweeping it behind square on the leg side.
Nallapureddy Charani came into the attack next. Another dropped catch happened as Ameen was dropped by the bowler herself. A tough chance went begging. Rana continued as Ameen came down the track and loft it over long-on for the maximum. Charani continued as Sidra got on the front foot and smashed it down the ground for a boundary through mid-on. The 50 came up for Pakistan in 18.3 overs.
Deepti Sharma came into the attack next. A run out chance came and went away as well. After 20 overs, Pakistan were 57/3.
Sidra Ameen & Natalia Pervaiz keep the hopes floating for Pakistan
Charani continued and bowled a miserly over. Pervaiz took the attack to Deepti by hitting it down the ground for a boundary. The next ball too went to the fence at deep square leg as the fielder misfielded and allowed the ball to go through. Charani did well later to keep the runs down to a brace a few balls later. Richa dropped another catch off Deepti Sharma this time as Ameen got another reprieve.
Charani continued as Ameen backed away and slapped it through covers for a cracking boundary. Deepti continued as the partnership between the two players got past 50 runs. Deepti kept things tight in the middle. Sneh Rana came back into the attack and bowled a decent 25th over. At the halfway stage of the innings, Pakistan were 84/3 and with loads of work to do from here.
What Lies Ahead
It has been a good recovery from Pakistan after the early jitters aided by poor catching from India. India still on top with Pakistan at 84/3 in 25 overs despite the fightback by Ameen and Pervaiz. This partnership has to carry on for a bit more for Pakistan to have a chance. India still should strike and win this game in the end although stranger things have happened before. Let’s see where this game is headed from here.
Also Read: ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025: Diana Baig’s 4-Wicket Haul Restricts India To 247.