COLOMBO — India crushed arch-rivals Pakistan by 88 runs in their Women’s World Cup clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday, but the convincing win was overshadowed by handshake snubs and umpiring controversies that added to the charged atmosphere.
Right from the toss, tensions were evident. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana’s call of “tails” was reportedly misheard by match officials as “heads,” leading to confusion when the coin landed heads up. The toss was incorrectly awarded to Pakistan, who opted to field, sparking early drama before a ball was bowled. The mood soured further when Pakistan’s Muneeba Ali was bizarrely run out after surviving a leg-before appeal — despite having grounded her bat initially, it was in the air when the bails were dislodged. The television umpire’s decision to give her out led to heated protests from the Pakistan camp.
Adding to the tension, the captains skipped the customary handshake at the toss, and neither side acknowledged each other after the match, heading straight to their dressing rooms. The frosty exchanges mirrored the animosity that has lingered since the recent men’s Asia Cup, spilling over into the women’s fixture.
On the field, India produced a clinical all-round performance. Batting first, they compiled a competitive 247 thanks to solid contributions throughout the order. Harleen Deol anchored the innings with a composed 46 off 65 balls, while Richa Ghosh provided late fireworks with an unbeaten 35 off 20 balls, peppered with two towering sixes. Pakistan seamer Diana Baig was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4-47 in a spirited spell that included three wickets in her final burst. She narrowly missed a five-wicket haul after overstepping on a delivery that dismissed Jemimah Rodrigues.
Pakistan’s reply faltered from the outset. The Indian new-ball attack swung the ball sharply to remove early wickets, and the spinners tightened their grip as the innings progressed. Sidra Amin offered resistance with a fluent 81 off 106 balls, featuring nine boundaries and a six, but found little support from the other end. Once she fell sweeping Sneh Rana to square leg, Pakistan’s hopes evaporated, and the team was dismissed for 159 in 43 overs.
Kranti Goud’s three-wicket burst earned her the player of the match award, while Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana shared five wickets between them. Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana admitted the team “gave away too many runs in the Power Play” and rued the lack of support for Sidra’s lone stand.
The victory propelled India to the top of the Women’s World Cup standings, while Pakistan remained winless, languishing in sixth place. But beyond the scorecard, it was the tense atmosphere, handshake snubs, and contentious umpiring moments that dominated headlines, underscoring the growing intensity of this South Asian rivalry.