Women’s World Cup 2025: Formidable Australia Meet Struggling Pakistan – Match Preview
By Gaurav Tripathi | October 7, 2025 | 4:59 PM
The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 continues with an exciting clash as Australia takes on Pakistan in Match No. 9 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on October 8. Australia enters this fixture buoyed by an impressive win against New Zealand in their opening match. However, their last game against Sri Lanka was abandoned due to rain. On the other hand, Pakistan has faced a tough start to the tournament, losing their opening two games against India and Bangladesh.
Match Details
Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Time: 3:00 PM IST
Broadcast: Live on Star Sports Network and JioHotstar app/website
Pitch Report
The R. Premadasa Stadium is known for its bowling-friendly conditions. Recent matches here have tended to be low-scoring affairs. Fast bowlers can expect assistance early on, while spinners are likely to play a key role as the game progresses.
Australia: Building Momentum
Australia showed their dominance in the tournament opener against New Zealand, thanks largely to Ashleigh Gardner’s scintillating century. Despite some key players like opener Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, and Annabel Sutherland not hitting top form yet, Gardner’s knock made the match one-sided. Australia view this encounter against Pakistan as an opportunity to fine-tune their strategies before taking on tougher opponents like England, India, and South Africa in the upcoming matches.
Pakistan: Facing Several Concerns
Pakistan has struggled to find form in the tournament so far. Consecutive losses to Bangladesh and India have left them at the bottom of the table in this eight-team competition. Their batting line-up especially has been a concern, with low totals of 129 and 159 in their initial games. Key players including Sidra Amin, Fatima Sana, and Muneeba Ali have not been able to deliver consistent performances.
Head-to-Head: Australia’s Dominance
The head-to-head record between Australia and Pakistan heavily favors the Aussies. According to ESPNcricinfo, the two teams have met 16 times in ODI cricket, with Australia winning every match. None of these encounters resulted in a no result. Their first meeting was on February 7, 1997, and the most recent clash occurred on January 21, 2023. Five of these meetings have taken place in World Cup tournaments, underscoring Australia’s dominance.
Probable Playing XIs
Australia: Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Kim Garth, Alana King, Darcie Brown.
Pakistan: Muneeba Ali, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana (c), Sidra Nawaz (wk), Rameen Shamim, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal.
Key Players and Stats to Watch
- Sophie Molineux impressed with a three-wicket haul against New Zealand and boasts 26 WODI wickets at an exceptional average of 13.69.
- Ashleigh Gardner made history by scoring her century off just 77 balls, the third-fastest in Women’s World Cup history and the fastest by any Australian batter in the tournament.
- Nashra Sandhu recently became the first left-arm Asian spinner to claim a six-wicket haul in a Women’s ODI, showcasing her threat with the ball.
- Sidra Amin leads Pakistan’s batting this year with 599 runs at an impressive average of 74.87.
Looking Ahead
With Australia looking to maintain their winning momentum and Pakistan eager to turn around their fortunes, this match promises interesting contests across departments. Key battles to watch include Australia’s star hitters looking to capitalize against Pakistan’s bowling attack, and Pakistan’s batsmen aiming to build a competitive total against a dominant Australian bowling line-up.
Will Beth Mooney finally cross the 50-run mark in this clash? Fans can look forward to an intriguing contest at the R. Premadasa Stadium tomorrow.
