The sixteenth clash of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 promises a captivating contest as England Women square off against Pakistan Women on October 15th at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. The match kicks off at 3:00 PM IST, setting the stage for a riveting duel between England’s tactical precision and Pakistan’s fighting spirit under the Colombo skies.
England have made a near-perfect start to their campaign. They demolished South Africa in the opener, bundling them out for 69 before sealing a commanding 10-wicket victory. Their second match against Bangladesh, however, tested their temperament — slipping to 103/6 in pursuit of 178 before Heather Knight’s calm leadership guided them home by four wickets. Against Sri Lanka, they flexed their batting muscle once again, posting 254 and securing a comprehensive 89-run win.
Pakistan, conversely, are still searching for momentum. Their batting frailties have been exposed repeatedly — folding for 129 against Bangladesh and 159 against India, despite disciplined bowling efforts. Against the defending champions Australia, they showed glimpses of fight but eventually went down by 107 runs, underlining the need for a collective performance to stay afloat in the tournament.
Squads:
England Women’s Cricket Team
Nat Sciver-Brunt (C), Tammy Beaumont, Em Arlott, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team
Fatima Sana (C), Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (VC), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Nashra Sandhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Syeda Aroob Shah
Players to watch out:
Amy Jones
The reliable wicketkeeper-batter was instrumental in England’s dominant win over South Africa, remaining unbeaten on 40 off 50 with six crisp boundaries. Although she has managed only 1 and 11 in her last two innings, her 2491 ODI runs in 106 matches and composed temperament make her a pivotal part of England’s top order.
Lauren Bell
England’s pace enforcer continues to impress with her control and bounce. With returns of 1/24, 1/28, and 0/32 in the group stages, Bell’s consistency remains key to England’s bowling attack. Having claimed 40 wickets in 27 ODIs (BB: 5/37), her new-ball spell could dictate the tone of the contest.
Muneeba Ali Siddiqui
Though runs have been hard to come by this tournament (17, 2, 3), Muneeba’s form earlier this year showed promise. With 1332 runs in 55 ODIs, including a century, she has the technique to anchor Pakistan’s innings — a role they desperately need her to deliver if they are to challenge England’s disciplined bowling.
Nashra Sandhu
Pakistan’s spin spearhead has steadily found her rhythm. After modest returns in the opening games (0/27 and 1/52), she roared back with 3/37 against Australia, reaffirming her value in the middle overs. With 108 wickets in 78 ODIs (BB: 6/26), Nashra’s subtle variations and flight can trouble even the most set batters.
Pitch:
The R. Premadasa Stadium surface is known to reward stroke-making early on, with the average first-innings total around 288. As the game wears on, spinners tend to thrive, especially under lights when grip and turn come into play. Captains winning the toss may prefer to bowl first, looking to exploit early seam movement before settling into a controlled chase later in the evening.
Weather:
Colombo’s weather is expected to be partly cloudy with intermittent light showers. Temperatures will hover around 29°C, accompanied by 76% humidity and a gentle 10 kph breeze, offering slight swing early on. With a 40% chance of rain, short stoppages are possible, though a full game remains likely if showers stay brief.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amy Jones, Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Linsey Smith, Fatima Sana, Sidra Amin, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu
Match Details:
Date – October 15, 2025
Time – 3:00 PM IST
Venue – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Broadcast – Live on Star Sports Network | Streaming on JioCinema
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