Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has urged her batters to play deeper into the innings after her side suffered a 107-run loss to defending champions Australia in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 at the R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday.
Early Dominance, Missed Opportunity
Opting to field first, Pakistan’s bowlers were on fire early on. With the pitch offering grip and turn, the Green Shirts ripped through Australia’s top and middle order, reducing them to a staggering 76 for 7 inside 21 overs.
It looked like Pakistan were on the verge of something special. But just when the match tilted heavily in their favour, Beth Mooney stood tall. Her gritty century, one of the finest counter-attacking knocks of the tournament, turned the game on its head.
Australia clawed their way to 221 for 9, and from there, Pakistan’s energy seemed to fade.
Fatima Sana admitted as much after the game.
“We were on top after 20 overs in the first innings,” she said. “After that, Beth Mooney played well, and our girls’ energy came down. We need to improve when that energy drops.”
She added that maintaining focus till the last ball was key.
“If you are on top in 20 overs, you need to be on top till the last ball. The way she [Mooney] played was awesome to watch.”
Batting Woes Continue
In reply, Pakistan’s batting faltered once again. The team could muster only 114 runs before being bowled out in 36.3 overs, their third straight defeat of the tournament.
Sidra Amin fought hard for her 35, but there was little support from the rest. Fatima admitted the bowling unit had done their job but stressed the need for batters to take more responsibility.
“Today was the day when bowlers were on top,” she said. “We need to discuss with the batters. We need more of them to bat long into the innings. We need to touch 190-200, and we will chat together.”
Bright Spots and Lessons
Despite the loss, there were moments that showcased Pakistan’s spirit, diving catches, sharp stumpings, and bursts of lively fielding. The decision to bowl first had raised eyebrows, but the spinners justified the call early on, exploiting the slow and turning surface effectively.
Fatima stood by that decision.
“We had decided to bowl because of the pitch. It was slow and turning, and we know our spinners have done well. That was the main idea,” she explained. “We have the best spinners in the Pakistan team.”
For around 22 overs, Pakistan were in control against the world champions. But cricket, as it so often does, reminded everyone how quickly momentum can swing.
Next Stop: England Clash
With three losses in as many matches, Pakistan now find themselves at the bottom of the points table and must beat England on 15 October at the same venue to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
It won’t be easy, but as Fatima’s words suggest, the team’s spirit is still intact; they just need to back it up with runs on the board.
If Pakistan can match the intensity of their bowlers and fielders with greater discipline from the batters, there’s still time to turn their campaign around.
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