Team India Secures Victory Over Pakistan Amidst Dispute, Confusion - and Flying Pest Problem

Women's Cricket World Cup, Sri Lankan Capital

Team India 247 runs (50 overs): Harleen Deol 46 (65 deliveries); Diana Baig 4-69

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

India won by 88-run margin

India maintained their flawless opening to the Women's World Cup via a comprehensive 88-run win over rivals Pakistan at Colombo.

Deol registered the highest score scoring 46 as Richa Ghosh hammered 35 not out off 20 deliveries towards the end to boost India's total to 247 in an innings that featured multiple players get going but fail to kick on.

Seamer Diana Baig took four wickets for 69 as Pakistan bowled India out for the first time in women's one-day international off the final delivery of the innings yet an initial triumph still eludes them.

Following a slide to 26-3 during their pursuit, Pakistan momentarily fought back through Sidra Amin - who proceeded to score 81 from 105 balls following being given reprieves thrice - along with Natalia Pervaiz added 69 runs during their fourth-wicket stand.

But India, led by Goud's three for twenty, persisted with their plan to bowl out the Pakistani team for 159 runs in the 43rd over and climb to the top of the group table.

As commonly occurs during India-Pakistan encounters, though, there was far more to the match, featuring dispute and uncertainty sprinkled during the match...

Perhaps the biggest discussion point came from an incident early in Pakistan's innings when the opening player Muneeba was debatably run out.

The left-handed batter got hit on the protective padding from Goud when the bowler from India appealed without success for leg before wicket, Sharma collected the loose ball and launched at the bails.

She struck however video evidence revealed Muneeba had placed her willow ahead of the ball entered the frame and a 'safe' verdict from the third umpire Kerrin Klaaste was displayed on the big screen at the stadium.

However, ahead of the match continuing, the ruling was reviewed again and it became apparent that while the ball hit the stumps and knocked off the bails, the batter had elevated the bat and was positioned outside her crease.

Even though the hitter had already grounded her bat and didn't endeavor to sneak a single, the match referee modified her verdict to 'dismissed' and despite Pakistan protests, which saw captain Fatima Sana instruct her player to remain on the field for a short time, the batter had to exit.

With an additional complication, if India had merely challenged the LBW appeal, the complete debate would have been avoided as ball-tracking revealed Muneeba was clearly out LBW.

30.1 Concerning leaving the crease

Rule 30.1.1 A batter shall be considered as out of their ground unless some part of their body or bat is grounded behind the popping crease at that side.

30.1.2 Nonetheless, a player shall not be deemed as having left their crease when, during running or diving to their crease and further, and after placing an element of his/her person or bat over the line, there follows loss of contact between the surface and any portion of his/her person or bat, or between the bat and person.

It ought to have been obvious that events would not become straightforward in this game from the very toss.

Amid a context of political tensions involving both countries, that skippers Sana and Harmanpreet declined to shake hands was expected - particularly considering the previous instances in recent matches between the men's sides.

Nevertheless, no-one could have predicted that the captain would declare wrongly yet secure the toss.

The team leader called out "tails" while Harmanpreet tossed the currency but official Shandre Fritz misheard and announced "heads is the call".

Presenter and former cricketer Mel Jones was overseeing the toss and reiterated Fritz's words, the coin fell heads up and there was declaration that Pakistan had won the toss.

No skipper challenged it therefore the captain managed to advance and verify that the Pakistani side would chase.

A genuine error and given India won in any case, no harm done.

Amidst {the toss confusion|the coin flip confusion|the toss