India Crush Pakistan By 88 Runs in Women’s World Cup 2025: It's 12-0 Record Now

India's women's cricket team continued their dominance over arch-rivals Pakistan with a commanding 88-run victory in the ICC Women's World Cup clash at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday. The triumph not only preserved India's perfect 12-0 record against Pakistan since their first meeting in 2005 but also lifted them to the top of the points table with a net run rate of +1.505.

This win also marked a unique streak - the fourth consecutive Sunday that an Indian team, men's or women's, has defeated Pakistan across different formats.

India's Batting Falters Despite Solid Start

Batting first, India were bundled out for 247 runs, failing to convert good starts into substantial scores. Openers struggled early, with Smriti Mandhana (23) falling cheaply to Fatima Sana, continuing her lean patch from the previous outing against Sri Lanka.

Pratika Rawal (31) displayed elegance before being dismissed by Sadia Iqbal, while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (19) failed to find rhythm and was caught down the leg side off Diana Baig.

The middle order showed brief resistance, with Harleen Deol top-scoring with 46 before perishing to an ambitious stroke against Rameen Shamim. A short interruption due to bug fumigation appeared to disrupt Jemimah Rodrigues' momentum, leading to her dismissal soon after.

Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma stitched together a 42-run stand for the sixth wicket but couldn't accelerate as Pakistan's spinners - Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, and Rameen Shamim - tightened their grip.

Pakistan's Chase Unravels Early

Chasing 248, Pakistan's innings never gained traction. The top order crumbled under pressure, managing just 25 runs in the powerplay. Muneeba Ali and Sadaf Shamas fell early, with Muneeba's dismissal - a sharp direct hit by Deepti Sharma - sparking controversy and disrupting Pakistan's rhythm.

A brief revival came through Sidra Amin and Natalia Pervaiz, who added 69 runs for the fourth wicket. But India's debutant star Kranti Goud turned the tide, removing Pervaiz (33) and finishing with impressive figures of 10-3-20-3.

Despite Amin's valiant 81 off 106 balls - which included Pakistan's first six against India in women's ODIs - the chase collapsed swiftly. Sneh Rana claimed Amin's wicket, while Harmanpreet Kaur's direct hit to dismiss Diana Baig epitomized India's fighting spirit. Deepti Sharma wrapped up the innings as Pakistan were bowled out well short of the target.

Fielding Flaws and Missed Chances

While India's bowlers impressed, their fielding left much to be desired. The team dropped three catches - two offered by Sidra Amin - and misfielded several times, allowing Pakistan brief breathing space. The DRS usage also drew criticism, with both reviews wasted on unsuccessful appeals.

Looking Ahead

Despite the flaws, India's unbeaten run remains intact as they prepare to face South Africa on October 9 in Vizag. With the middle order still inconsistent and fielding lapses persisting, captain Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged that "the team needs to tighten the basics before the knockout phase."

As the Women's World Cup progresses, India's mix of dominance and vulnerability continues to define their journey - powerful with the ball, promising with the bat, but still seeking perfection in the field.