India Secures Victory Over Pakistani Side Amid Controversy, Uncertainty - plus Insect Invasion
The Pakistani team Expresses Displeasure When Match Official Questionably Changes Running Out Ruling
Women's Cricket World Cup, Colombo
India 247 (Complete innings): Harleen Deol 46 (65 balls); Diana Baig 4-69
Team Pakistan 159 runs (43-over innings): Amin 81 (106 balls); Goud 3-20
Team India secured victory by eighty-eight runs
Team India preserved their flawless opening during the championship via a comprehensive 88-run victory versus traditional opponents Pakistan in Colombo.
Harleen Deol top-scored with 46 while Richa Ghosh blasted an unbeaten 35 off 20 deliveries towards the end to lift India up reaching 247 throughout their knock that saw multiple players make starts without converting.
Bowler Diana Baig secured four wickets for 69 as Pakistan bowled Team India for the first time in a women's ODI from the last ball of their knock yet an initial triumph continued to evade them.
After slipping to 26/3 in the chase, Pakistan briefly rallied with Sidra Amin - who went on to make 81 in 105-ball innings after receiving chances on three occasions - and Natalia Pervaiz together put on 69 for the fourth wicket.
But India, spearheaded by Kranti Goud's 3/20, persisted with their plan to bowl out the Pakistani team scoring 159 during the 43rd over and move top in the group standings.
As commonly occurs when India and Pakistan meet, though, there developed considerably more to the match, amid controversy and confusion scattered across the match...
Dismissal Dispute
Perhaps the biggest discussion point originated from an incident early in Pakistan's innings when opener Muneeba Ali was debatably run out.
The left-hander was struck on the protective padding by Goud and as the India bowler appealed without success for LBW, Deepti Sharma collected the loose ball and threw at the stumps.
She struck however video evidence revealed the batter had embedded her bat ahead of the ball entered the frame and a 'not out' decision from the third umpire Klaaste appeared on the giant display in the venue.
Nevertheless, prior to play resuming, the ruling was reviewed again and it transpired that while the ball struck the wickets and knocked off the bails, the batter had elevated her equipment and was still stood away from her ground.
Although the player had earlier embedded her equipment and didn't endeavor to take a quick run, the match referee changed her decision to 'out' and despite Pakistan protests, that witnessed skipper Fatima Sana instruct her player not to leave the ground temporarily, Muneeba was compelled to depart.
Adding another layer, had India simply reviewed the leg before ruling, the entire dispute could have been prevented because ball-tracking showed Muneeba was plumb lbw.
What do the rules of the game say?
30.1 Regarding being out of ground
Rule 30.1.1 A hitter shall be regarded as out of their ground if no part of their body or bat is positioned behind the line at that end.
30.1.2 Nevertheless, a player shall not be deemed to be out of his/her ground when, during running or diving towards his/her ground and beyond, and having grounded a portion of the player or equipment beyond the popping crease, there is subsequent loss of contact between the ground and any part of his/her person or bat, or between equipment and player.
'Tails becomes heads call'
Uncertainty when Pakistan wrongly given toss against India
It should have been apparent that matters would not prove uncomplicated in this contest from the very toss.
Amid a context of governmental disputes among the two nations, that skippers Sana and Harmanpreet avoided handshakes came as no surprise - especially given the precedent set in previous encounters among the men's teams.
However, none could have anticipated that Sana would call incorrectly and still secure the toss.
The team leader shouted "tails" as Harmanpreet flicked the currency but official Shandre Fritz misheard and stated "heads chosen".
Broadcaster and former Australia batter Mel Jones was conducting the flip and echoed Fritz's words, heads appeared and it was announced that the Pakistani side gained the coin toss.
Neither leader disputed it thus Sana could advance and verify that the Pakistani side would chase.
A harmless blunder and given India won in any case, no damage caused.
Insects halt match
'Who you gonna call?' - 'Bugbuster' arrives as flies stop play
In between {the toss confusion|the coin flip confusion|the toss
