The Indian Women's Team Secures Victory Over Pakistani Side Amidst Debate, Confusion - and Flying Pest Problem

ICC Women's World Cup, Colombo

Indian Total 247 (50 overs): Deol 46 (65-ball innings); Baig's 4 wickets for 69

Team Pakistan 159 runs (43 overs): Amin 81 (106-ball knock); Goud's 3 wickets for 20

Indian side triumphed by 88 runs

The Indian side continued their flawless opening to the Women's World Cup through a convincing 88-run victory against arch-rivals Pakistan in Sri Lanka.

Deol registered the highest score scoring 46 while Richa Ghosh blasted an unbeaten 35 off 20 deliveries in the closing stages to lift India up to 247 during their batting effort that featured numerous batters get going but fail to kick on.

Pacer Diana Baig claimed 4-69 while Pakistan dismissed the Indian team for the first time during women's limited overs match off the final delivery of their knock however a maiden victory continued to evade them.

Following a slide to 26-3 during their pursuit, Pakistan briefly rallied through Sidra Amin - who proceeded to score 81 in 105-ball innings after being dropped thrice - and Natalia Pervaiz put on 69 for the fourth wicket.

However India, guided by Kranti Goud's 3/20, maintained their focus to dismiss Pakistan for 159 runs in the 43rd over and move top of the group table.

As is so often the case when India and Pakistan meet, however, there developed considerably more to the contest, with controversy and confusion peppered throughout the encounter...

Possibly the major conversation topic originated from a occurrence in the beginning of the Pakistani batting when the opening player Ali was questionably given out running.

The left-hander was struck on the protective padding off Goud's delivery and as the India bowler appealed unsuccessfully for lbw, Deepti collected the loose ball and threw at the stumps.

She hit but replays showed the batter had embedded her willow prior to the ball entered the frame and a 'not out' decision by the TV umpire Klaaste was displayed on the giant display at the stadium.

Nonetheless, prior to play resuming, the verdict was re-examined and it emerged that while the ball hit the stumps and removed the bails, Muneeba had raised her equipment and was positioned out of her crease.

Even though the hitter had earlier embedded her bat and didn't endeavor to sneak a single, the TV official changed her decision to 'given out' and notwithstanding Pakistani objections, which saw skipper Fatima Sana instruct her player to remain on the ground for a short time, Muneeba had to go.

Adding another layer, if India had merely challenged the lbw decision, the complete debate would have been avoided as ball-tracking revealed Muneeba was plumb lbw.

30.1 Regarding being out of ground

Rule 30.1.1 A hitter shall be regarded as having left their crease unless some part of the player or equipment is placed behind the popping crease at that side.

Rule 30.1.2 Nevertheless, a batter shall not be considered as having left their crease if, while sprinting or diving toward their ground and past, and having grounded some part of the player or equipment over the line, there follows loss of contact between the surface and any portion of his/her person or bat, or between equipment and player.

It should have been apparent that events would not become straightforward in this game starting with the coin flip.

Within an environment of diplomatic strains involving both countries, that captains Sana and Harmanpreet Kaur did not shake hands came as no surprise - notably because of the established pattern in recent games among the men's teams.

Nevertheless, nobody could have foreseen that the captain would declare incorrectly and still win the toss.

The team leader shouted "tails" as the Indian captain spun the coin yet umpire Shandre Fritz misheard and declared "heads called".

Broadcaster and former Australia batter Jones was managing the toss and repeated the referee's statement, the coin fell heads up and there was declaration that Pakistan had won the coin toss.

No skipper challenged it so Sana was able to come forward and affirm that Pakistan would field first.

A harmless blunder and given India won anyway, no harm done.

During {the toss confusion|the coin flip confusion|the toss