Women’s Cricket World Cup: New Zealand Wins Toss and Chooses to Bowl Against Pakistan

The Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 showcased an exciting match on October 18 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. New Zealand Women faced Pakistan Women at the R. Premadasa Stadium, marking match No. 19 of the tournament. In a strategic decision, New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first, aiming to capitalize on the conditions.
Match Context and Team Performance
New Zealand entered this encounter with a mixed record, having won one and lost two of their previous matches. Their last game against Sri Lanka did not yield a result due to weather conditions, leaving the team eager for a solid performance. On the other hand, Pakistan struggled initially with three consecutive losses before their previous match against England was washed out.
Key Statements from Team Captains
Pakistan’s captain, Fatima Sana, expressed confidence in her team’s ability to perform better, asserting that they believed a target above 200 would be competitive. She acknowledged the disappointment of previous outcomes and emphasized the importance of focusing on the current match rather than getting ahead of themselves.
New Zealand’s captain, Sophie Devine, shared her thoughts on the match conditions. She highlighted the weather’s impact on pitch performance and addressed the necessity of knowing what target to chase. Devine praised her team’s openers, emphasizing their experience and talent, particularly focusing on Suzie Bates and the promising Georgia Plimmer.
Playing XI
Both teams finalized their line-ups for the match as follows:
- Pakistan Women:
- Muneeba Ali
- Omaima Sohail
- Sidra Amin
- Aliya Riaz
- Natalia Pervaiz
- Fatima Sana (c)
- Sidra Nawaz (w)
- Rameen Shamim
- Diana Baig
- Nashra Sandhu
- Sadia Iqbal
- New Zealand Women:
- Suzie Bates
- Georgia Plimmer
- Amelia Kerr
- Sophie Devine (c)
- Brooke Halliday
- Maddy Green
- Isabella Gaze (w)
- Jess Kerr
- Rosemary Mair
- Lea Tahuhu
- Eden Carson
As the match unfolds, both teams aim for a successful outing in this critical stage of the Women’s Cricket World Cup, with players and fans alike anticipating a thrilling contest.