India Clinches 88-Run Victory Over Pakistan in Colombo
India continued their impressive run in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, marching to an 88-run win over Pakistan at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. The result pushed India’s record in ODIs against Pakistan to an undefeated 12-0 under captain Harmanpreet Kaur, underscoring the team’s growing supremacy in the rivalry and their sustained momentum ahead of the knockout phase.
Batting first, India posted 247 as the pitch offered some assistance to the bowlers later in the game. Harleen Deol top-scored with 46, while Richa Ghosh contributed a brisk 35, giving the team crucial starts on a track where converting those starts into big partnerships proved challenging. The rest of the batting order struggled to convert their opportunities, but the total was defended by a disciplined Indian attack that kept Pakistan on a tight leash throughout the chase.
“It wasn’t an easy pitch to bat on,” Harmanpreet Kaur explained at the post-match presentation. “We wanted to bat longer and see how many runs we could get. It’s been raining, there was a hold on the pitch, but we wanted to keep wickets in hand. The key was keeping wickets, and Richa batted really well and gave us those crucial 30 runs.”
Pakistan Fights But Falls Short
Pakistan’s chase got off to a worrying start as three early wickets left them struggling at 26 for 3 by the eighth over. The middle-order fight, led by Sidra Amin’s enterprising 81 off 106 balls, kept Pakistan within reach for a time, but the rest of the batting lineup couldn’t build partnerships consistently on the Colombo surface. Natalia Pervaiz added 33, yet the target remained out of reach as India’s bowlers tightened the screws.
Kranti Goud delivered a match-defining spell from the top, taking 3 for 20, while Deepti Sharma added 3 for 45 and Shree Charani chipped in with 2 for 38. The collective performance underscored India’s bowling depth and tactical discipline, with the bowlers exploiting any movement and keeping the pressure on Pakistan’s batters throughout the innings.
Harmanpreet’s Leadership and Key Takeaways
The Indian captain was quick to credit her bowlers and the team’s overall approach. “There are a lot of areas, but we are happy we won; we want to carry the momentum forward,” she said. She also highlighted the importance of finishing games with a clear plan, especially on pitches that offered assistance to bowlers as the innings progressed.
The win extended India’s streak of performance consistency in the World Cup, reinforcing the team’s standing as a serious title contender. Beyond the scoreboard, the victory carried symbolic weight for Indian cricket fans who have come to expect a high-tempo, strategic brand of white-ball cricket from this group under Harmanpreet’s leadership.
A Message to Fans Back Home
In the post-match remarks, Harmanpreet addressed the broader fan base, saying, “Very happy, very important game for all of us, and I’m sure everyone back home is happy as well.” The comment resonated with supporters who have followed India’s steady ascent in women’s cricket, where consistency and mental strength have become as important as skill on the field.
The team now shifts focus toward maintaining their performance curve on the road to the knockout rounds, with a clear emphasis on refining combinations that can adapt to varied conditions. As Harmanpreet hinted, the challenge will be to monitor pitch behavior, manage player workloads, and continue the pace with which India has been playing this tournament.
Looking Ahead
With the group stage nearing its end, India’s aim is simple: win the next matches, preserve top form, and keep their position near the top of the standings. The 88-run victory over Pakistan has reinforced the belief that this is a team capable of balancing aggressive intent with calculated risk. If they maintain this balance, they could well be a favorite as the World Cup approaches its later stages.
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