A gripping encounter is underway at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 as New Zealand’s White Ferns take on a struggling Pakistan side at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. With both teams under immense pressure to find consistency, this Match No. 19 is crucial for their World Cup aspirations. New Zealand, having secured just one victory in three outings (with one washout), won the toss and opted to bowl first, hoping to exploit the early conditions.
Skipper Sophie Devine revealed her strategy, stating, ‘We saw in the England vs Pakistan match that pitching it up early can be rewarding. With the weather around Colombo, knowing what to chase is often beneficial.’ She emphasized the team’s focus on ‘process and execution,’ placing trust in openers Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer to lay a strong foundation. Pakistan, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle, having suffered three consecutive losses before rain interrupted their last game against England. Captain Fatima Sana remains optimistic, stressing the importance of improved batting. ‘Anything above 200 is a good target. Our batting will execute better this time,’ she confidently declared, confirming an unchanged squad. The pitch report from Alan Wilkins and Aaron Finch highlighted a warm, humid day in Colombo. The dry, hard track with inconsistent grass cover is expected to favor pacers, especially with the new ball. Batters are advised to stand outside the crease to counter movement off the pitch and through the air.
New Zealand Women (Playing XI): Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu (in for Bree Illing), Eden Carson.
Pakistan Women (Playing XI): Muneeba Ali, Omaima Sohail, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana (c), Sidra Nawaz (wk), Rameen Shamim, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal.
The match kicked off with Omaima Sohail and Muneeba Ali opening for Pakistan. Rosemary Mair began the attack for New Zealand. Pakistan got off the mark quickly when Muneeba Ali struck a glorious four off Mair’s first delivery, driving elegantly through wide mid-off and extra cover. The first over concluded with 9 runs. In the second over, Jess Kerr took the ball, and nearly claimed a wicket when Muneeba Ali edged one low to keeper Izzy Gaze, who unfortunately couldn’t hold on to the catch. Despite some late swing and wide deliveries, Pakistan managed to reach 12/0 after 3 overs, with Muneeba Ali on 8 (11 balls) and Omaima Sohail on 1 (1 ball).
With both teams currently in the lower half of the table, this Colombo fixture carries immense significance. The early swing on offer could dictate the flow of the game, but given the unpredictable weather, adaptability and composure will be key factors in determining which side can keep their World Cup journey alive.