Team India Secures Victory Over Pakistan During Controversy, Uncertainty - and Bug Infestation
Pakistan Voices Unhappiness When Match Official Questionably Changes Running Out Ruling
ICC Women's World Cup, Colombo
Indian Total 247 (50 overs): Deol's 46 runs (65-ball innings); Baig 4-69
Pakistan 159 (43 overs): Amin 81 (106 balls); Goud's 3 wickets for 20
Team India secured victory by 88-run margin
India maintained their 100% start in the World Cup tournament via a comprehensive 88-run victory against arch-rivals Pakistan in Colombo.
Deol registered the highest score with 46 as Richa Ghosh hammered a not-out 35 from 20 balls towards the end to boost India's total reaching 247 in an innings which witnessed multiple players begin well but not continuing.
Bowler Diana Baig secured 4-69 as Pakistan bowled the Indian team initially in women's one-day international with the ultimate ball of their knock yet an initial triumph still eludes them.
After slipping to 26/3 during their pursuit, Pakistan briefly rallied with Sidra Amin - who went on to make 81 from 105 balls after being dropped three times - and Natalia Pervaiz added 69 runs for the fourth partnership.
But India, spearheaded by Kranti Goud's 3/20, maintained their focus to bowl Pakistan out for 159 runs by the 43rd over and move top of the group table.
As typically happens when India and Pakistan meet, nevertheless, there was far more to the match, featuring dispute and uncertainty scattered across the match...
Dismissal Dispute
Possibly the major talking point emerged from a situation in the beginning of Pakistan's innings when the opening player Ali was questionably run out.
The left-hander got hit on the pad by Goud when the bowler from India appealed without success for lbw, Sharma gathered the stray ball and threw at the stumps.
She hit but replays showed Muneeba had placed her bat before the ball entered the frame and a 'safe' verdict from the match official Kerrin Klaaste was displayed on the giant display in the ground.
However, before the game restarted, the verdict was re-examined and it emerged that as the ball struck the wickets and knocked off the bails, the batter had elevated her equipment and was still stood out of her crease.
Even though the hitter had already grounded the bat and didn't endeavor to steal a run, the match referee altered her ruling to 'out' and notwithstanding Pakistani objections, that witnessed skipper Fatima Sana instruct her player to remain on the field briefly, the batter had to exit.
With an additional complication, had India simply reviewed the leg before ruling, the whole controversy might have been averted because ball-tracking showed the batter was undoubtedly leg before.
What do the laws of the game say?
30.1 Concerning leaving the crease
Section 30.1.1 A hitter shall be regarded as out of their ground if no part of their body or bat is placed behind the popping crease at that end.
Section 30.1.2 Nevertheless, a player shall not be deemed as having left their crease if, while sprinting or diving toward their ground and beyond, and having grounded some part of the player or equipment over the line, there follows loss of connection between the surface and any portion of his/her person or bat, or between willow and batter.
'Tails becomes heads call'
Bewilderment as Pakistan incorrectly awarded toss against India
It should have been clear that matters would not prove straightforward in this game starting with the coin flip.
Within an environment of governmental disputes between the two countries, that skippers Sana and Harmanpreet did not shake hands came as no surprise - particularly considering the previous instances in recent games among the men's teams.
However, no-one could have predicted that the captain would declare incorrectly and still secure the toss.
The Pakistan skipper shouted "tails" while Harmanpreet tossed the coin but match referee Fritz misunderstood and stated "heads chosen".
Presenter and former cricketer Jones was managing the flip and echoed the official's announcement, the coin landed on heads and there was declaration that the Pakistani side gained the toss.
No skipper challenged it so Sana was able to advance and verify that Pakistan would bowl first.
A genuine error and given India won regardless, no harm done.
Bugs stop play
'Who will you contact?' - 'Pest controller' comes as flies stop play
In between {the toss confusion|the coin flip confusion|the toss
