Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone powered England to the top of the Women’s World Cup 2025 standings with a dominant win over Sri Lanka. Sciver-Brunt’s gritty 117 lifted England from a mid-innings collapse to a commanding total, while Ecclestone’s magical spell of 4 for 17 sealed a 92-run victory. With this triumph, England have now won all three of their group-stage matches, sitting first on the table with 6 points and a net run rate of +1.89—just ahead of India. Their consistent performances with both bat and ball have made them early tournament favorites, while Heather Knight’s tactical leadership continues to be praised. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, sit mid-table with one win from three games and will need a strong comeback to stay in semifinal contention.
Meanwhile, India continued their unbeaten run by defeating Pakistan by 88 runs in Colombo. Put into bat first, India posted 247; Sidra Amin’s solid 81 was the only real resistance from Pakistan, as Indian bowlers like Kranti Goud (3-20) and Deepti Sharma (3-45) strangled their chase. The win not only extended India’s dominance over Pakistan in ODIs (now 12-0) but also pushed them to the top of the points table with a healthy net run rate. With England and India leading the standings, and Australia close behind after two convincing wins, the race for the semifinals is heating up in what promises to be one of the most competitive Women’s World Cups ever.
Keshav Maharaj to Miss First Pakistan Test Despite Domestic Comeback
South African spinner Keshav Maharaj is set to miss the first Test against Pakistan in the upcoming two-match series, despite actively featuring in South Africa’s domestic first-class competition. The decision, as reported by Wisden, stems from Cricket South Africa’s strategic workload management plan aimed at keeping Maharaj fit for the long season ahead. Following his key role in South Africa’s World Test Championship triumph earlier this year, team management wants him to regain full rhythm through local cricket before returning to international duty. In his absence, spinners like Bjorn Fortuin or Simon Harmer are likely to fill the gap. Maharaj is expected to rejoin the national squad ahead of the second Test, strengthening South Africa’s spin department for the decisive clash in Pakistan.
Usman Shinwari Bids Farewell to International Cricket
Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler Usman Khan Shinwari has officially announced his retirement from international cricket, marking the end of a decade-long journey with the national team. Debuting in 2013, Shinwari represented Pakistan in one Test, 17 ODIs, and 16 T20Is, earning a reputation for his fiery pace and swing bowling. Despite his promising start, recurring injuries and stiff competition limited his appearances at the international level. He made his T20I, ODI, and Test debuts—all against Sri Lanka—and was part of Pakistan’s ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2018 squad. Over the years, Shinwari delivered several match-winning spells, especially in white-ball cricket, where his aggression often rattled top orders. His departure leaves behind fond memories and highlights of raw pace that once energized Pakistan’s bowling attack.
