Women’s ODI World Cup: Live Blog – India vs Pakistan

Even as Deepti Sharma bowled Rameen Shamim around her legs for a golden duck, there was a glimmer of hope in the Pakistani dressing room that the well-set Sidra Amin might get them home. A tame sweep, however, has put the full stop on an exquisite innings. Harmanpreet Kaur is animated with her celebrations after taking the low catch by the umpire, denoting the value of the wicket. Amin walks off to a round of applause after scoring 81 off 106 balls.

Notwithstanding her promising partnership with Natalia Pervaiz, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Amin is waging a lone war. Sidra Nawaz drills a full toss back to the bowler and Sneh Rana has a wry smile on her face. Wasn’t the greatest of deliveries but she won’t be complaining at all.

The Indian seamer returns impressive figures of 10-3-20-3, seven of which were sent down uninterruptedly at the start of the innings. It is a commendable effort, but the game is hanging in balance despite her feat as Amin continues to pepper the straight boundaries. She is very strong down the ground and has anchored the chase with calculated precision so far.

She punches the air in delight after reaching the half-century landmark which clearly means the world to her. Had scored a couple of tons against South Africa before this tournament, couldn’t perform in the first match but has now delivered the goods in a crunch situation. Amin was slow to begin with but has made amends for the hyper-vigilance by taking on the Indian bowlers once she felt nice and settled.

Pakistan have lost half their side in the 248-run chase. An inspired bowling change – bringing Kranti Gaud into the attack after her lengthy exercise earlier – broke the ominous partnership between Natalia Pervaiz and Sidra Amin, as the former skied an ambitious loft.

As the old adage goes, one brought two, with Fatima Sana holing out at long-off after some unsuccessful attempts to break free. India have retaliated ferociously after a phase that belonged to Pakistan.

The partnership is now worth 69 off 96 balls as India figure out ways to stop Pakistan in their tracks. A wicket is the need of the hour for the women in blue.

Pakistan believe again! The right-handers have become accustomed to the conditions and have successfully managed to increase the tempo of the chase. The singles are flowing now and India suddenly seem under a bit of pressure. They certainly cannot afford to drop any more catches.

It is important to note that spinner Shree Charani has left the field to receive treatment on her chest after diving over the ball.

That was quite an eventful over. Pakistan sensed that they need to find the fence more often and attacked Deepti Sharma as a result, to grand success. Shree Charani, fielding at deep square leg, let a ball nutmeg her into the rope and then got bruised while putting in a dive. To heighten the drama, Richa Ghosh failed to latch onto an edge, a fat deviation to be precise.

Natalia Pervaiz and Sidra Amin have upped the ante of late, pushing the fielders back a touch with their proactive strokeplay, but Pakistan are still going too slow. India were 86/2 at this stage.

She has consumed a lot of dots but the silver lining is that the time-spent factor has got her well set. Comes down the pitch and aces the connection to fetch six over long-on. The fielder was inside the circle, making it a percentage shot. She was dropped in the previous over by Shree Charani and seems determined to make it count. First-ever six that Pakistan have hit against India in a dozen matches. 

First signs of spin after the Indian new-ball merchants were given extended spells, and it proves to be an expensive over, a significant departure from the proceedings hitherto. An enterprising shot and a poor delivery in there, both culminating in a four.

In accordance with the friendly conditions under lights, Harmanpreet Kaur has frontloaded the Indian seam merchants and they have justified their captain’s call. Pakistan have not only lost their top-order but their scoring rate is nothing to write home about. Aliya Riaz was the latest to perish, wafting at a delivery that was zooming away from the bat.

Renuka has a sheepish smile on her face. She induces an outside edge and the keeper has made a meal of it. Sidra Amin will kick on, having received her second life. Will those errors prove costly? Remember India don’t have an extremely formidable total on the board and the pitch is apparently free of demons.

India did let go of an opportunity to topple the second domino when wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh dived in front of first slip to shell an edge, but Kranti Gaud, the medium pacer who was denied that wicket, has taken matters into her own hands. Simple caught and bowled to dislodge an uncertain Shamas who miscues a whip. Pakistan are in a spot of bother as both Renuka Singh Thakur and Gaud generate movement both ways.

Muneeba Ali and Sadaf Shamas have opened the innings for Pakistan and their pursuit of 248 in 50 overs had begun on a cautious note. Until caution was thrown to the wind on the final ball of the over…

There was an appeal for LBW against the southpaw which didn’t quite led to a dismissal but Deepti Sharma was quick on the uptake and had a shy at the striker’s end. Muneeba was batting outside of her crease to negate the movement and although she tapped her bat in once, the instant the ball made contact with the stumps her willow was airborne.

The third umpire wasn’t convinced at first and green-lighted the opener’s stay but upon closer inspection, it came to light that the bat indeed wasn’t grounded when it mattered. Therefore, Muneeba had to depart.

Over-rate penalty for Pakistan who were found to be five minutes behind the rate. An extra fielder was inside the ring in the ultimate over and India took full toll, with Richa Ghosh reverse-scooping the profligate Diana Baig and Kranti Gaud helping a wayward bumper past short fine leg.

India were down in the dumps at 159/5 in the 35th over but their batting depth means they were able to accomplish a decent total which their strong bowling attack would fancy defending.

India are faring well in the home stretch. While Kranti Gaud, who came in after Shree Charani exited, nailed a horizontal-bat drive first ball, Richa Ghosh is flexing her muscles to undo the good work that Pakistan had done all this while. She has raced away to 28 off 17 deliveries.

Diana Baig missed her length to proffer a full toss and Richa cashes in. Smacked down the ground. Economy wise, the fast bowler hasn’t had a terrific outing and India are showing prudence by going after her. An overpitched freebie is also demolished, tonked over covers to get India going as far as the finishing kick is concerned.

It was there to be hit, a juicy slot ball outside off, but Pakistan have eked out a wicket regardless. Everything is going their way. India have searched for notable partnerships throughout the innings but neither of their three promising alliances could reach 50.

All-rounders Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana were endeavoring to deliver the final flourish to the innings but Pakistan have seen the back of the latter to peg India back. Richa Ghosh in the new batter in and she would be expected to make an impact in the last few overs.

Pakistan’s fielding display can be best described as a mixed bag. Their have been a couple of well-judged catches and acrobatic interventions, but overall they have looked lousy on the field. India are no mugs with the ball so each and every run is precious.

The Pakistan captain has been right on the money with the ball. Her eight overs have amounted for just 23 runs, including two maidens, and the prized scalp of Smriti Mandhana upfront. She could’ve added another wicket to her kitty as UltraEdge picked up a murmur when the ball was next to the bat on the fourth ball of this over. Sneh Rana is fortunate to get away with that.

Breaks are notorious for disrupting a batter’s concentration and that’s exactly what has happened here. The game stopped for fifteen minutes and India have lost a wicket immediately upon resumption.

Jemimah planted her front-foot across on the sweep and was caught right in front. It’s three reds, crashing into leg-stump. The original verdict has to be reversed and Pakistan are jubilant, for they have reviewed successfully this time around.

There’ll be a halt in play. The players are ambling out of the ground to allow the ground staff to spray the fumicide. With all the rain around Colombo, it did result in plenty of insects and it has proved to be a chronic distratction for both teams. Work is underway to ameliorate the conditions for all involved. The loss of time will be adjusted via a shorter innings break, no overs will be lost.

Harleen Deol was holding the Indian innings together as Pakistan kept chipping away at the wickets. Though it is now time for her to head back to the pavillion, on the verge of a well-deserved fifty, as a mistimed loft lands in the palms of long-on. This is a crucial breakthrough for Pakistan, given her presence till the end could’ve made a difference of 50 odd runs to the total, especially with six overs remaining in the second PowerPlay.