India Earns Win Against Pakistani Side Amid Controversy, Bewilderment - and Flying Pest Invasion
Pakistan Voices Unhappiness As Match Official Questionably Alters Run-out Decision
Women's Cricket World Cup, Sri Lankan Capital
Team India 247 runs (Complete innings): Harleen Deol 46 (65 deliveries); Diana Baig 4-69
Pakistan 159 (Forty-three overs): Sidra Amin 81 (106 deliveries); Goud 3-20
Indian side triumphed by 88 runs
India maintained their perfect beginning during the championship through a convincing 88-run win over rivals Pakistan at Colombo.
Harleen Deol was the highest scorer scoring 46 while Richa Ghosh blasted an unbeaten 35 from 20 balls in the closing stages to boost India's total to 247 during their batting effort which witnessed numerous batters begin well but fail to kick on.
Bowler Diana Baig secured 4-69 as the Pakistani attack bowled out India out initially in women's one-day international from the last ball of their knock but a first win still eludes them.
After slipping to 26/3 in the run chase, The Pakistani side temporarily recovered as Sidra Amin - who went on to make 81 in 105-ball innings following being given reprieves thrice - and Natalia Pervaiz together put on 69 during their fourth-wicket stand.
However India, led by Kranti Goud's 3-20, persisted with their plan to bowl Pakistan out for 159 in the 43rd over and ascend to first position of the group table.
As commonly occurs when these rivals face each other, however, there was far more to the contest, amid controversy and confusion peppered throughout the encounter...
Run-out Controversy
Perhaps the biggest discussion point emerged from an incident early in Pakistan's innings when opener Muneeba Ali was debatably run out.
The southpaw was struck on the protective padding off Goud's delivery when the India bowler appealed without success for LBW, Deepti Sharma gathered the stray ball and threw at the stumps.
She hit yet footage demonstrated Muneeba had placed her bat prior to the ball came into view and an 'not out' ruling from the third umpire the umpire went up on the large screen at the stadium.
Nevertheless, ahead of the match continuing, the ruling was reviewed again and it emerged that while the ball hit the stumps and removed the bails, Muneeba had lifted her equipment and was still stood outside her crease.
Although the player had previously placed her equipment and wasn't attempting to sneak a single, the TV official modified her verdict to 'dismissed' and regardless of Pakistan's complaints, that witnessed skipper Fatima Sana direct her hitter to stay at the pitch for a short time, Muneeba was compelled to depart.
In a further twist, had India simply reviewed the leg before ruling, the whole controversy would have been avoided because ball-tracking showed the batter was undoubtedly leg before.
What do the laws of the sport indicate?
30.1 Regarding being out of ground
30.1.1 A hitter shall be regarded to be out of his/her ground unless some part of his/her person or bat is positioned behind the line at that wicket.
Section 30.1.2 Nonetheless, a batter shall not be considered as out of their ground if, in running or diving toward their ground and further, and following embedding an element of his/her person or bat beyond the popping crease, there occurs subsequent loss of touch between the surface and any portion of the player or equipment, or between the bat and person.
'Tails... heads is the call'
Confusion as Pakistan incorrectly awarded toss against India
It should have been clear that things would not be simple in this match from the very toss.
Against a backdrop of governmental disputes involving both countries, that skippers Sana and Harmanpreet declined to shake hands came as no surprise - notably because of the established pattern in previous encounters among the men's teams.
Nevertheless, none could have anticipated that Sana would call incorrectly and still win the toss.
The Pakistani captain announced "tails" as the Indian captain spun the coin yet umpire Fritz misunderstood and announced "heads is the call".
Broadcaster and former Australia batter Jones was managing the flip and echoed Fritz's words, the coin landed on heads and it was announced that the Pakistani side gained the flip.
Neither leader disputed it therefore the captain managed to advance and verify that Pakistan would field first.
A genuine error and considering India's victory in any case, no harm done.
Flying pests interrupt game
'Who you gonna call?' - 'Insect expert' appears when insects halt game
Amidst {the toss confusion|the coin flip confusion|the toss
