India defeat Pakistan amid controversy and insect interruptions in Women's World Cup opener
India beat Pakistan to start their ICC Women's World Cup 2025 campaign with an 88-run victory in Colombo, a match marked by a contentious run-out, a misheard toss and a mid-game insect infestation.
ICC Women's World Cup, Colombo
India 247 (50 overs): Harleen Deol 46 (65); Diana Baig 4-69
Pakistan 159 (43 overs): Sidra Amin 81 (106); Kranti Goud 3-20
India won by 88 runs.
India opened their Women's World Cup campaign with a commanding 88-run win over Pakistan in Colombo, maintaining a perfect start.
Strong batting performance
Harleen Deol top-scored for India with 46 runs, while Richa Ghosh's late assault of 35 not out from 20 balls propelled the team to 247. Despite multiple starts, Pakistan bowlers only found consistency through Diana Baig's four wickets.
Controversial run-out
Early in Pakistan's reply, an off-field review overturned a 'not out' ruling to dismiss opener Muneeba Ali. Initially ruled not out by the third umpire, a second check showed her bat was lifted when the bails fell, sparking protests from Pakistan's captain.
Misheard toss
Political tensions set the tone before play, and the toss added confusion. Pakistan's captain called 'tails', but match referee Shandre Fritz announced 'heads', leading to an incorrect toss outcome that went unchallenged.
Insect invasion pauses play
Bugs swarmed the pitch throughout the game, forcing a 15-minute stoppage and a fumigation attempt by a man in a gas mask. Players used sprays and towels, but the insects persisted, providing an unusual distraction.
India's win was overshadowed by a disputed run-out, a misheard toss and a pitch invaded by insects, highlighting the unpredictability of high-profile encounters.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
Discover the latest news and current events in Sports News as of 06-10-2025. The article titled " India defeat Pakistan amid controversy and insect interruptions in Women's World Cup opener " provides you with the most relevant and reliable information in the Sports News field. Each news piece is thoroughly analyzed to deliver valuable insights to our readers.
The information in " India defeat Pakistan amid controversy and insect interruptions in Women's World Cup opener " helps you make better-informed decisions within the Sports News category. Our news articles are continuously updated and adhere to journalistic standards.