India Secures Victory Against Pakistan Amid Debate, Bewilderment - plus Bug Invasion
Pakistan Shows Dissatisfaction As Third Umpire Controversially Reverses Run-out Verdict
ICC Women's World Cup, Sri Lankan Capital
Indian Total 247 (Fifty overs): Harleen Deol 46 (65-ball innings); Baig's 4 wickets for 69
Pakistan 159 (Forty-three overs): Sidra Amin 81 (106 balls); Goud 3-20
Indian side triumphed by 88-run margin
Team India preserved their perfect beginning to the Women's World Cup through a convincing eighty-eight run triumph versus traditional opponents Pakistan in Colombo.
Harleen Deol was the highest scorer with 46 while Richa Ghosh blasted a not-out 35 off 20 deliveries towards the end to boost India's total reaching 247 in an innings that featured numerous batters make starts but not continuing.
Bowler Diana Baig secured four wickets for 69 as the Pakistani attack bowled out Team India initially in a women's ODI off the final delivery of their knock yet an initial triumph continued to evade them.
Following a slide to 26/3 in the chase, Pakistan briefly rallied with Sidra Amin - who went on to make 81 off 105 deliveries after receiving chances thrice - along with Natalia Pervaiz compiled 69 during their fourth-wicket stand.
Yet Team India, guided by Kranti Goud's 3-20, stuck to their task to bowl out the Pakistani team for 159 in the 43rd over and ascend to first position of the tournament table.
As commonly occurs during India-Pakistan encounters, nevertheless, there existed much more to it, amid controversy and confusion scattered across the encounter...
Run-out Dispute
Possibly the major conversation topic emerged from a situation early in the Pakistani batting when the opening player Muneeba was controversially dismissed via run out.
The left-handed batter received impact on the leg guard by Goud and as the bowler from India appealed unsuccessfully for LBW, Deepti Sharma collected the loose ball and threw at the stumps.
She connected yet footage demonstrated Muneeba had placed the bat ahead of the ball was even in the picture and a 'safe' verdict by the TV umpire the umpire was displayed on the giant display at the stadium.
Nonetheless, ahead of the match continuing, the decision was looked at again and it emerged that when the ball hit the stumps and removed the bails, Muneeba had raised her bat and remained standing away from her ground.
Although the player had already grounded her equipment and was not trying to take a quick run, the third umpire altered her ruling to 'dismissed' and notwithstanding Pakistani objections, that witnessed skipper Fatima Sana direct her hitter to remain on the pitch briefly, Muneeba was compelled to depart.
In a further twist, should India have referred the LBW appeal, the entire dispute could have been prevented as ball-tracking revealed the batter was undoubtedly leg before.
What do the laws of cricket state?
30.1 Regarding being out of ground
30.1.1 A batter shall be considered to be out of his/her ground if no part of his/her person or bat is grounded behind the popping crease at that wicket.
30.1.2 Nevertheless, a hitter shall not be regarded to be out of his/her ground if, in running or diving towards his/her ground and past, and after placing some part of their body or bat past the batting crease, there is subsequent loss of contact between the ground and any part of the player or equipment, or between willow and batter.
'Incorrect toss announcement'
Confusion as Pakistan wrongly given toss against India
It should have been clear that things would not be uncomplicated in this contest from the very toss.
Against a backdrop of political tensions between the two countries, that leaders Sana and Kaur did not shake hands was no surprise - especially given the established pattern in previous encounters involving the male teams.
Nevertheless, nobody could have foreseen that Sana would announce wrongly yet gain the flip.
The Pakistani captain announced "tails" while Harmanpreet tossed the coin but match referee Shandre Fritz misheard and stated "heads chosen".
Presenter and former cricketer Mel Jones was overseeing the toss and repeated the official's announcement, heads appeared and it was announced that Pakistan secured the toss.
No skipper challenged it therefore the captain managed to step forward and confirm that the Pakistani side would chase.
A genuine error and since India triumphed regardless, no harm done.
Insects halt match
'Who you gonna call?' - 'Pest controller' comes as bugs interrupt match
During {the toss confusion|the coin flip confusion|the toss
