ISLAMABAD: Pakistan have won the toss and opted to bat first against Bangladesh in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday.
The Green Shirts had a shaky start to their batting, losing Sidra Amin and Omaima Sohail in the first over. Both departed for a first-ball duck. Muneeba Ali and Rameen Shamim rebuilt the innings, taking Pakistan to 41 after 10 overs.
The two sides are meeting for the first time since their World Cup qualifiers encounter in April, where Pakistan secured a victory.
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana, speaking at a pre-match press conference on Wednesday, expressed confidence in her side’s preparations and team balance, particularly in spin-friendly Sri Lankan conditions.
“We have world-class spinners, and our team has played well in similar conditions. We’ll look to use that to our advantage,” Fatima said. She also emphasized the importance of momentum carried forward from the qualifiers and highlighted the team’s depth.
“All-rounders are the backbone of a team. We’ve got Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Natalia Pervaiz and myself, all capable of contributing in multiple departments,” she added.
With experienced batters Sidra Amin and Aliya Riaz familiar with the conditions, and a pace duo of Diana Baig and Fatima herself, Pakistan will look to control the game through the middle overs. The team has also been working on utilizing reverse swing, which could play a role under Sri Lankan conditions.
“Captaincy is a challenge, especially at the World Cup level, but I’m confident in the plans we’ve made. We just need to stay calm and execute,” Fatima said.
Australia ease past New Zealand
Meanwhile, in the second match of the tournament, defending champions Australia sent a strong message with a commanding 89-run victory over New Zealand in Indore.
All-rounder Ashleigh Gardner powered Australia with a blistering 115 off 83 balls, lifting her team from 128-5 to a daunting 326. Her innings featured 16 boundaries and a six, blending elegance with power.
“It was special. We lost quick wickets, but we wanted to keep the intent high, and it paid off,” Gardner said post-match.
New Zealand’s response faltered early, with both openers dismissed for ducks, including a diamond duck for Georgia Plimmer. Skipper Sophie Devine’s fighting 111 was the only highlight in an otherwise one-sided affair, as Australia’s sharp fielding and bowling wrapped up the match clinically.
Devine, who crossed 4,000 ODI runs during her innings, admitted: “It’s bittersweet. I’d trade it all for a win.”
Leg-spinner Amelia Kerr also reached a milestone with her 100th ODI wicket, finishing with impressive figures alongside her sister Jess Kerr.
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