New Zealand Women will face Pakistan Women in the 19th match of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 in Colombo on Saturday, October 18. Pakistan Women, who are yet to win a game in the tournament, will look to finish their campaign with pride.

Though Pakistan are out of the semi-final race, they can still upset New Zealand’s chances. The Kiwis, led by Sophie Devine, are desperate for a win to stay in the top four. However, once again, weather conditions in Colombo threaten to interrupt play.

Pakistan’s season hit by rain and poor luck

Pakistan have endured a disappointing campaign filled with rain disruptions and missed opportunities. Their previous match against England ended without a result after heavy showers.

Before the interruption, Pakistan had restricted England to 133 for 9 in a 31-over game. In reply, Pakistan were comfortably placed at 34 for 0 in 6.4 overs, chasing a revised target of 113 under the DLS method. Unfortunately, rain returned, forcing the match to be abandoned.

With three losses and one no-result from four games, Pakistan remain at the bottom of the points table.

New Zealand fighting for a semi-final spot

New Zealand, the 2000 World Cup champions, are just outside the top four with three points from three matches. After losing consecutive games against Australia and South Africa, they bounced back strongly with a win over Bangladesh. However, their next game against Sri Lanka was washed out, halting their progress.

The team now faces must-win situations in their remaining fixtures to secure a semi-final berth.

Pakistan bowlers show signs of improvement

Despite their struggles, Pakistan’s bowling unit showed encouraging signs in their previous match. Captain Fatima Sana led from the front, claiming four wickets against England. Left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal supported her well with two wickets, helping Pakistan take control before rain spoiled their chances.

Devine leads New Zealand’s batting

For New Zealand, captain Sophie Devine has been in excellent form with the bat. She averages 86.66 from three innings and has anchored her team’s batting lineup. Her composed innings, along with Brooke Halliday’s steady performance, guided New Zealand to victory over Bangladesh.

However, inconsistency in the top order continues to trouble the Kiwis. Experienced players like Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, and Amelia Kerr have not managed to convert their starts into big scores. This has put extra pressure on Devine to hold the innings together.

On the bowling front, New Zealand have been steady. Devine impressed with figures of 3 for 54, while Bree Illing picked up 2 for 39 in their last outing.

Rain remains a major threat

Weather could again play a decisive role in this match. Forecasts predict light showers throughout Saturday, which could disrupt play or force another washout.

A no-result would be disastrous for New Zealand, who still have two tough matches coming up against India and England on October 23 and 26. For them, a full game on Saturday is crucial to keeping their semi-final dream alive.

Pakistan, on the other hand, will look to end their campaign positively and shake up the points table, regardless of their elimination.

Pitch report

Batting first has generally produced better results at the R. Premadasa Stadium. However, with rain in the forecast, chasing could become easier if the DLS method comes into play. If the weather stays clear, spinners are likely to benefit from the surface, which offers grip and turn.

Weather report

Colombo is expected to have warm and humid conditions on match day. Temperatures will hover around 27°C but could feel like 31°C due to high humidity levels near 80%. Light rain is predicted throughout the day and night, with gentle winds blowing at around 4 mph from the south.

Squads

New Zealand Women: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu

Pakistan Women: Fatima Sana (c), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sandhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Syeda Aroob Shah