3 hours ago 2

Women's World Cup: India bat first against Pakistan after captains decline handshake

Summary

Pakistan win toss and field first; Captains don't shake hands
India won their opener; Pakistan lost to Bangladesh
Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live Sport commnentary at top of page

Live Reporting

by Sam Drury

Postpublished at 10:55 BST
Shachi Pai
Former Lancashire batter on BBC Radio Sports Extra

Pakistan need to find a way to not give that boundary ball opportunity in every over. That is what is taking away that pressure that they are building early on in their overs.
They need to find a plan and stick to it.
Ind 33-0published at 5 overs

Relief for Pakistan as they get through an over without conceding a boundary for the first time in the innings.
Just four singles from Fatima Sana's second over but the India openers are looking pretty comfortable.
Postpublished at 10:50 BST
Shachi Pai
Former Lancashire batter on BBC Radio Sports Extra

Diana Baig is doing well to get seam movement, she is inviting Smriti Mandhana to go for that big drive.
A really good over here and the fielding from Pakistan is important too.
Ind 29-0published at 4 overs

Five good balls from Diana Biag, including drawing a play and a miss from Smriti Mandhana, but the over ends with a wide half-volley.
Mandhana is never missing out on that, driving crisply through point for four.
Ind 25-0published at 3 overs
Pratika 19, Mandhana 5

Image source, Getty Images
Having seen that movement for Diana Biag, Fatima Sana wastes no time in bringing herself on.
The Pakistan skipper concedes just one from her first four balls and then finds the edge of Pratika Rawal with the fifth.
The right-hander was playing off the back foot but gets a genuine edge and the ball flies through a vacant second slip region for four.
Very good start for India, the runs are flowing.
Postpublished at 10:43 BST
Shachi Pai
Former Lancashire batter on BBC Radio Sports Extra

An excellent start from India here.
There is a lot of noise out there from the Pakistan players but the batters are finding ways to keep them quiet.
Ind 20-0published at 2 overs

Image source, Getty Images
Two slips in place with Diana Biag finding that early movement but when she drops a touch short, Pratika Rawal goes back and punches the ball nicely though the covers.
Great timing and a lightning outfield means it races to the boundary.
And again! Very similar shot, through the same area and the same result.
Make it three in a row. Much too full from Biag this time and Rawal drives elegantly between cover and point for four more.
Postpublished at 10:40 BST
Shachi Pai
Former Lancashire batter on BBC Radio Sports Extra

The batters need to take some time to assess the pitch and see what the pace of it is like - it has been under covers for a long while.
I like this from Diana Baig having the second slip in, she is seeing the movement that she can get.
Ind 8-0published at 1.1 overs

It's seam from the other end and Diana Biag finds movement immediately.
Lovely ball that moves away from the right-hander Pratika Rawal and beats the bat. Beauty. Encouraging signs for Pakistan.
Ind 8-0published at 1 over

Spin to start as slow left-armer Sadia Iqbal bowls the first over.
The first ball is worked fine off the hip by India opener Pratika Rawal for two before a single later in the over brings Smriti Mandhana.
She's given a long-hop to help her get going, powered away through mid-wicket for four by the left-hander.
Postpublished at 10:32 BST

Image source, Getty Images
Anthems done, Fatima Sana gets the Pakistan team in a huddle for a few final words before leading them out onto the field.
The India openers follow and we're just moments away from the first ball...
'We try to keep healthy relationships with every team'published at 10:28 BST
Mike Peter
BBC Sport journalist

The recent matches between the men's sides were ill-tempered affairs, with the teams not shaking hands and captains not engaging with one another at the toss, against a backdrop of political tensions between the two countries.
Despite India being the World Cup hosts, all of Pakistan's fixtures are being held in the Sri Lankan capital with neither nation willing to compete on each other's soil.
The two women's sides had previously enjoyed good relations, with players from both teams posing for a photo with the baby of Pakistan captain Bismah Mahroof at the 2022 World Cup.
But both camps refused to be drawn on relations between the sides for Sunday's game, with Indian representatives refusing questions on the subject.
"Obviously, our main goal is to play, our focus is only on the game," said Pakistan captain Fatima Sana.
"We try to keep healthy relationships with every team. Whatever comes in the spirit of the game, we try to maintain that.
"What happened before, like with Bismah's daughter when everyone mingled and enjoyed together – as players, we all like such moments. But the main thing is to stay focused on what we have come here for."
The teamspublished at 10:26 BST

Image source, Getty Images
India: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Kranti Goud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh.
Pakistan: Muneeba Ali, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana (c), Rameen Shamim, Diana Baig, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal.
Postpublished at 10:24 BST

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur: “Before heading to the World Cup it was a good series for us. We played a lot of cricket here. We have experience. Now it is about staying confident.
“This team is great. We are all gelling really well together.”
Postpublished at 10:22 BST

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana: "We’re going to bowl first because the weather looks good and there is a little bit of moisture in the pitch.
"We have great confidence from the confidence and hopefully we can execute our plans better today [than against Bangladesh].
"On that pitch under 250 would be a good total to defend and hopefully we can restrict them."
Pakistan win the toss and bowlpublished at 10:20 BST

Image source, Getty Images
The coin comes down in favour of Fatima Sana and Pakistan are going to bowl first.
They make one change with Sadaf Shamas coming in for Omaima Sohail. India also make one change; Amanjot Kaur is unwell so Renuka Singh replaces her.
No handshake between the captains.
Postpublished at 10:18 BST

News from the toss very shortly but the good news is that, after Australia v Sri Lanka was washed out at the same venue, it is dry in Colombo at the moment.
The forecast isn't brilliant, though, so we just have to keep our fingers crossed that we get lucky and the rain stays away.
Good morning!published at 10:16 BST

The Women's World Cup rolls on and today we've got one of the biggest fixtures in world sport to enjoy!
That's right for the fourth Sunday running it's India v Pakistan.
After three wins for India's men, can the women's side keep up the winning run or will Pakistan produce a major shock?