India hand Pakistan second successive defeat at Women’s World Cup

COLOMBO: After bowling out India for 247, Pakistan faltered badly with the bat with the only exception being Sidra Amin.

Pakistan managed to dismiss the entire Indian batting line-up, the first time they have done so in a one-day international (ODI) match.

They achieved the feat on Sunday as Pakistan and India faced off at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in Colombo, where the Blue Shirts were bowled out for 247.

No Indian batter was able to reach 50 runs, with HarleenDeol being the top scorer, hitting 46.

Diana Baig claimed four wickets, while SadiaIqbal and Fatima Sana took two each. RameenShamim and NashraSandhu both picked up one wicket apiece.

Skipper Fatima Sana, who chose to bowl first after winning the toss, said: “We are going to bowl first because the weather is dry and the pitch looks good.”

The tournament is being held from September 30 to November 2 in India and Sri Lanka, with Pakistan playing all their group-stage matches at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.

If Pakistan qualify for the semi-final on October 29 and the final on November 2, both matches will also take place in Colombo.

Earlier, India captain HarmanpreetKaur and Pakistan counterpart Fatima Sana skipped the customary handshake before a women’s cricket World Cup match on Sunday amid ongoing tensions between the rivals that plagued the men’s Asia Cup last month.

India-Pakistan relations have significantly deteriorated following military conflicts in May that nearly escalated into a full-fledged war between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

India beat Pakistan three times in the men’s Asia Cup, including in the September 28 final in Dubai, but refused to shake hands with their counterparts before or after the matches.

They also declined to receive the winners’ trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president MohsinNaqvi, who is Pakistan’s interior minister.

The frosty relations were evident in Colombo too where Kaur and Sana did not shake hands at the toss, nearly ignoring each other’s presence.

Sana won the toss and elected to field against India, who have never lost to Pakistan in a women’s one day international.

“We’re going to bowl first, looks like there could be some moisture on the wicket,” Sana said.

“On this wicket, anything under 250 would be a good total to defend and hopefully we can restrict them.”

India won a tri-series in Sri Lanka, also involving South Africa, in May and captain Kaur said that experience would stand them in good stead.

“It was a good series for us,” Kaur said.

“We played a lot of cricket here and, yeah, we have experience. Now it’s only about staying positive and playing good cricket.”

Bilateral cricket remains suspended between India and Pakistan, who play each other only in multi-team events at neutral venues.

India are the hosts of the ongoing women’s World Cup but Pakistan will be playing all their matches in Colombo under an agreement approved by the International Cricket Council. Monitoring Desk