India Earns Win Against Rival Pakistan Amid Controversy, Uncertainty - plus Insect Infestation
Pakistan Voices Unhappiness When Third Umpire Debatably Reverses Run-out Verdict
World Cup Tournament, Sri Lankan Capital
Indian Total 247 (Fifty overs): Harleen Deol 46 (65 balls); Baig 4-69
Pakistani Total 159 (Forty-three overs): Amin's 81 runs (106 deliveries); Goud's 3 wickets for 20
Team India secured victory by 88 runs
India maintained their perfect beginning during the championship with a comfortable eighty-eight run triumph against arch-rivals Pakistan in Sri Lanka.
Harleen Deol was the highest scorer with 46 and Richa Ghosh smashed a not-out 35 off 20 deliveries in the closing stages to propel the Indian score reaching 247 in an innings that saw several hitters make starts without converting.
Bowler Diana Baig secured 4-69 while Pakistan dismissed Team India for the first time in a women's ODI with the ultimate ball of the batting effort but a first win still eludes them.
Following a slide to 26/3 in the chase, The Pakistani side temporarily recovered through Sidra Amin - who proceeded to score 81 off 105 deliveries following being given reprieves thrice - and Natalia Pervaiz together added 69 runs during their fourth-wicket stand.
But India, spearheaded by Kranti Goud's 3-20, stuck to their task to dismiss Pakistan scoring 159 by the 43rd over and ascend to first position of the group table.
As typically happens during India-Pakistan encounters, however, there was far more to the contest, featuring dispute and uncertainty scattered across the match...
Dismissal Controversy
Probably the most significant talking point emerged from a occurrence in the beginning of the Pakistani batting when the opening player Ali was questionably dismissed via run out.
The left-hander got hit on the protective padding off Goud's delivery when the Indian bowler made an unsuccessful appeal for leg before wicket, Deepti Sharma picked up the free ball and launched at the bails.
She connected yet footage demonstrated Muneeba had placed the bat prior to the ball entered the frame and a 'safe' verdict from the third umpire Kerrin Klaaste was displayed on the large screen at the stadium.
However, ahead of the match continuing, the verdict was re-examined and it transpired that as the ball struck the wickets and removed the bails, Muneeba had lifted her bat and was positioned out of her crease.
While the batter had previously placed the bat and wasn't attempting to steal a run, the match referee changed her decision to 'given out' and notwithstanding Pakistani objections, which involved captain Fatima Sana direct her hitter to remain on the ground briefly, the batter had to exit.
In a further twist, had India simply reviewed the lbw decision, the whole controversy would have been avoided as ball-tracking revealed Muneeba was plumb lbw.
What do the rules of cricket state?
30.1 Concerning leaving the crease
30.1.1 A batter shall be considered to be out of his/her ground if no part of their body or bat is placed behind the popping crease at that wicket.
30.1.2 Nonetheless, a player shall not be deemed as having left their crease if, while sprinting or diving towards his/her ground and further, and following embedding an element of his/her person or bat beyond the popping crease, there is subsequent loss of contact between the field and any element of their body or bat, or between willow and batter.
'Tails becomes heads call'
Bewilderment as Pakistani side mistakenly granted coin toss versus India
It should have been clear that things would not be straightforward in this game from the very toss.
Within an environment of political tensions involving both countries, that captains Sana and Harmanpreet Kaur did not shake hands was no surprise - particularly considering the precedent set in previous encounters involving the male teams.
However, nobody could have foreseen that the captain would declare mistakenly but win the toss.
The team leader called out "tails" as the Indian captain spun the currency but official Shandre Fritz misheard and announced "heads is the call".
Broadcaster and former Australia batter Mel Jones was conducting the toss and repeated the referee's statement, the coin landed on heads and it was announced that Pakistan had won the flip.
Neither captain questioned it thus Sana could come forward and affirm that the Pakistani side would chase.
A genuine error and since India triumphed anyway, no negative impact.
Bugs stop play
'Who will you contact?' - 'Bugbuster' arrives as flies stop play
During {the toss confusion|the coin flip confusion|the toss
