India clinch 88-run win over Pakistan in ICC Women's Cricket World Cup

With the victory, India extended their winning record against Pakistan to 12-0 and secured their second successive win of the tournament while Pakistan slumped to their second consecutive defeat.

After Pakistan put India in to bat first, India managed to get to 247 and followed it up with a fine bowling performance to notch up a comprehensive win.

Kranti Gaud (3/20) starred with the ball as she rattled Pakistan's top order with a fiery spell that set the tone for the Indian bowlers. She was well supported by Deepti Sharma (3/45), who continued her fine form while Sneh Rana chipped in with two crucial wickets.

Despite a fighting half-century from Sidra Amin, Pakistan struggled to build partnerships. Amin’s fifty had kept Pakistan’s hopes alive but she found little support at the other end after Natalia Pervaiz’s dismissal with whom she stitched a 69-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Amin was eventually dismissed after a knock of 81, which is now the highest score by a Pakistan batter against India in Women's ODIs. Sneh Rana picked the crucial wicket of Amin as she was caught out in the deep end by Harmanpreet Kaur. Earlier, Rana had also bagged the wicket of Sidra Nawaz.

Pakistan lost three early wickets in their chase as India, led by Gaud, put pressure on them in the powerplay. Muneeba Ali and Sadaf Shams were sent back to the hut, followed by Aliya Riaz.

Muneeba Ali was the first one to go back to the pavilion after a soft dismissal. The opener lifted her bat while outside the crease and Deepti Sharma’s quick direct hit from the slips caught her short. The third umpire confirmed the dismissal after India appealed.

In the first innings, Pakistan delivered a strong bowling performance, led by Diana Baig, to bowl out India for 247. Baig wrapped up the Indian innings with the dismissals of Gaud and Renuka Singh, finishing with impressive figures of 4/69 to emerge as Pakistan’s standout bowler. That bowling effort also saw her claim 100 wickets for Pakistan across formats.

Apart from Baig, Sadia Iqbal and Fatima Sana claimed two wickets each while Rameen Shamim and Nashra Sandhu also contributed with the ball.

None of the Indian batters managed to convert their starts into a half century even as Harleen Deol top-scored with 46.

Richa Ghosh played a crucial cameo of 35* off 20 balls, helping India inch close to the 250-mark despite wickets falling regularly.

Earlier in the innings, Nashra Sandhu struck to remove Jemimah Rodrigues, leaving India with half their side back in the hut. Rodrigues was trapped LBW after a successful review, falling while attempting a sweep.

With that wicket, Sandhu became the joint highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, sharing the honour with former captain and ICC Hall of Famer Sana Mir who also has 17 dismissals.

Just the over before Rodrigues' dismissal, Rameen Shamim dismissed Harleen Deol as she stepped down the track but was caught by Sandhu at long on.

Rodrigues and Deol had absorbed the pressure after Pakistan removed India captain Harmanpreet Kaur as Kaur was caught behind while trying to guide it towards square leg. Kaur had steadied the innings alongside Deol after the loss of Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal.

Mandhana and Rawal put on a steady 48-run stand before Fatima Sana provided the breakthrough, trapping Mandhana LBW. Soon after, Sadia Iqbal delivered a beauty that angled in sharply to dismiss Rawal, leaving India two down after a solid foundation.

Kranti Goud, Player of the Match, said, "I am feeling really proud. Winning the Player of the Match award in a World Cup game is a special moment. My family and everyone back home in the village will be overjoyed — they even put up a big LED screen to watch the match, so this means a lot to all of us."

Speaking on the wicket of Aliya Riaz, she said, "I did request a second slip and although Harmanpreet felt the ball was too old for that, I insisted we keep it for that over — and it paid off with a wicket. My coach always tells me to keep things simple, and that is exactly what I try to do."

(With inputs from ICC and BCCI website)