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New Delhi: India's top-order failed again in the ongoing Women's ODI World Cup 2025 as the Women in Blue lost their half side on 159 runs. Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal gave a steady start to their side as they added a 48-run opening partnership before Pakistan's skipper Fatima Sana trapped Mandhana in front of the stumps on 23 runs and broke the partnership.
Mandhana's wicket put pressure on the Indian team, and their run-rate dipped to below five, which resulted in Pratika falling after the first powerplay. Harleen Deol was looking solid and was trying to shift the momentum, but skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's ultra-slow knock built the pressure on the Indian team.
Diana Baig removed Harmanpreet for 19 runs off 34 deliveries. Jeminah Rodrigues' positive approach turned the tables firmly on her side after India lost three wickets, but Harleen threw her wicket in the important stage of the game. The right-hand batter was dismissed on 46 runs off 65 deliveries with four boundaries and one maximum.
Jeminah was trapped in front of the wickets against Nashra Sandhu on 32 runs, and with her wicket, India lost half of their side back to the pavilion in 35 overs.
Earlier, Pakistan skipper Fatima won the toss and invited India to bat first in the high-octane clash. Harmanpreet continued the 'no handshake' policy with Fatima at the toss.
After a failure from the top-order, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, and Richa Ghosh's cameo helped India to post 247 runs in 50 overs. The score is quite respectable by looking at the slow-pace wicket. India lost half of the side on 159 runs in 35 overs, but the lower-order again contributed after the top-order's failure.
Diana Baig was the pick of the bowlers but was quite expensive in her spell, as she gave 69 runs in 10 overs but picked up four important wickets in the game. Skipper Fatima Sana also scalped two wickets and gave just 38 runs in her spell.
