India Secures Victory Over Rival Pakistan Amidst Debate, Uncertainty - plus Bug Invasion
Pakistan Expresses Displeasure When Third Umpire Debatably Changes Dismissal Verdict
World Cup Tournament, Sri Lankan Capital
India 247 (Complete innings): Deol's 46 runs (65 balls); Baig's 4 wickets for 69
Team Pakistan 159 runs (Forty-three overs): Sidra Amin 81 (106 balls); Kranti Goud 3-20
Team India secured victory by 88-run margin
India maintained their perfect beginning in the World Cup tournament through a convincing 88-run win against arch-rivals Pakistan in Sri Lanka.
Deol registered the highest score making 46 runs while Richa Ghosh blasted an unbeaten 35 in 20-ball innings in the closing stages to propel the Indian score to 247 runs in an innings which witnessed multiple players get going but fail to kick on.
Seamer Diana Baig took 4-69 as the Pakistani attack bowled out the Indian team initially in women's one-day international with the ultimate ball of the innings however a maiden victory still eludes them.
Following a slide to 26/3 in the run chase, The Pakistani side temporarily recovered as Sidra Amin - who went on to make 81 off 105 deliveries 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, maintained their focus to dismiss Pakistan for 159 runs during the 43rd over and ascend to first position in the group standings.
As typically happens during India-Pakistan encounters, however, there was far more to the contest, with controversy and confusion peppered throughout the match...
Running Out Controversy
Possibly the major conversation topic emerged from an incident during the early stages of Pakistan's knock when the opening player Muneeba was debatably run out.
The left-handed batter received impact on the protective padding from Goud when the bowler from India made an unsuccessful appeal for lbw, Deepti collected the loose ball and threw at the stumps.
She struck yet footage demonstrated Muneeba had placed the bat ahead of the ball entered the frame and an 'not out' ruling by the TV umpire Kerrin Klaaste appeared on the big screen in the ground.
Nonetheless, before the game restarted, the ruling was reviewed again and it emerged that when the ball struck the wickets and knocked off the bails, Muneeba had lifted her equipment and was still stood out of her crease.
Even though the hitter had previously placed her bat and was not trying to take a quick run, the third umpire changed her decision to 'given out' and regardless of Pakistan's complaints, that witnessed captain Fatima Sana direct her hitter not to leave the ground briefly, Muneeba had to go.
In a further twist, should India have referred the LBW appeal, the whole controversy would have been avoided because ball-tracking showed the batter was undoubtedly leg before.
What do the regulations of the sport indicate?
30.1 Concerning leaving the crease
30.1.1 A hitter shall be regarded as out of their ground if no part of his/her person or bat is positioned behind the line at that end.
Section 30.1.2 Nonetheless, a batter shall not be considered as out of their ground when, during running or diving towards his/her ground and beyond, and having grounded some part of their body or bat over the line, there is subsequent loss of touch between the field and any element of the player or equipment, or between the bat and person.
'Tails becomes heads call'
Uncertainty when Pakistani side mistakenly granted coin toss versus India
It should have been clear that matters would not prove straightforward in this game starting with the coin flip.
Amid a context of diplomatic strains involving both countries, that skippers Sana and Harmanpreet did not shake hands came as no surprise - notably because of the precedent set in previous encounters involving the male teams.
Nonetheless, nobody could have foreseen that the captain would declare incorrectly and still gain the flip.
The team leader called out "tails" while Harmanpreet tossed the currency but official Shandre Fritz misheard and announced "heads is the call".
Broadcaster and former Australia batter Jones was managing the toss and reiterated the official's announcement, the coin landed on heads and there was declaration that Pakistan secured the flip.
Neither captain questioned it thus Sana could step forward and confirm that Pakistan would field first.
A genuine error and given India won regardless, no harm done.
Flying pests interrupt game
'Who you gonna call?' - 'Insect expert' appears as bugs interrupt match
In between {the toss confusion|the coin flip confusion|the toss
