In a thrilling encounter at the Women’s World Cup in Colombo, India extended its undefeated streak against arch-rivals Pakistan, securing a decisive 88-run victory. This win marks India’s twelfth consecutive triumph over Pakistan in women’s One-Day Internationals, solidifying their dominant record.
The intensity of this long-standing rivalry was palpable, spilling beyond the boundaries of play. Following the match, a notable absence was observed as captains Sana and Harmanpreet Kaur opted to forgo the traditional post-match handshake. This act mirrored a similar trend seen in recent men’s Asia Cup matches, where India also emerged victorious in all three contests against Pakistan, highlighting the deep-seated political tensions between the two nations.
On-field tempers also flared during the game. A tense moment saw India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Pakistan’s spinner, Nashra Sandhu, exchange ‘death stares,’ adding another layer of drama to the high-pressure environment.
One of the most talked-about incidents occurred early in Pakistan’s innings when opener Muneeba Ali was controversially run out, sparking immediate discussion among fans and commentators.
Another heated exchange, though initially less noticed, involved India’s Deepti Sharma and Pakistan’s top-scorer, Sidra Amin. The incident unfolded in the 34th over of Pakistan’s chase. Amin pushed the ball towards the covers and sprinted for a quick single. Deepti Sharma, swift to react, gathered the ball and hurled it towards the non-striker’s end. While she missed the stumps, the ball struck Amin squarely on the back of her right leg.
Play was briefly suspended as umpire Lauren Agenbag checked on Deepti, who appeared unfazed, merely shrugging off the situation. Amin subsequently received medical attention before bravely returning to the crease to continue her innings.
Adding an ironic twist to the events, Deepti Sharma was later named the best fielder of the match. In a video shared on bcci.tv, she humbly remarked, “God is great,” reflecting on her performance.
Despite what some might have considered a less-than-perfect overall fielding performance from India, coach Munish Bali lauded the efforts of Deepti, Harmanpreet, and Smriti Mandhana for their exceptional contributions in the field. “Shabaash, girls, well done. Back-to-back wins – six catches and two run-outs, well done. Two very good catches under pressure – Smriti, well done. One good catch, one direct hit – well done Harmanpreet. Deepti, excellent slip catch, good low catch, and one run-out with great awareness – excellent Deepti,” Bali praised, highlighting their individual brilliance.
Looking ahead, India is set to face South Africa at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on October 9, followed by a highly anticipated clash against defending champions Australia at the same venue on October 12. These upcoming matches promise to be significant tests for the in-form Indian squad.