What SL-W’s Playing XI Could Look Like Against PAK-W in the 25th Match of ICC Women’s World Cup 2025

Cricket in Colombo has a strange cadence – the R. Premadasa Stadium with its seemingly harmless flat deck has invariably punished complacency. The initial overs often welcome aggressive stroke play, but the spinning trap in the later stages of the surface can cause matches to turn on their heads. Sri Lanka Women (SL-W) will confront Pakistan Women (PAK-W) in the 25th match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, and both sides are keen for a central push. 

Early Momentum Hinges on Aggressive Openers

The opening batting combination of Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama is a fragile but explosive duo. Gunaratne’s ability to hit the ball well all over the ground, and the potential that he will have time to find his footing with a solid opening 15-20 overs at the Premadasa stadium, could be beneficial; and Samarawickrama has an unorthodox batting style, which could disrupt Pakistan’s opening bowlers’ rhythm. Historically, Sri Lanka has done most of its scoring in the first 15 overs when they can get their foot off the mark quickly (with some success), or if they fail to do so, they will be forced to defend on a pitch that is conducive to being aggressive. 

Middle Order Balance Faces Tactical Tests

The middle order, Hasini Perera, Nilakshika Silva, and Anushka Sanjeewani (WK), is at that critical juncture of the match where the ball will begin to take more turns and bounce off more uneven parts of the pitch. Diana Baig and Fatima Sana, both spinners who have been successful in this format of cricket, will likely take advantage of these conditions with some unpredictable bounce and turn.

Anushka Sanjeewani also has a good sense of how to read bowlers and adjust the pace of the batting accordingly. For Sri Lanka’s coaches, they face a very difficult decision: do they try to increase their run rate while there is still time left in the match and the pitch has not completely broken down? Or do they focus on protecting their best batsmen from being dismissed too quickly?

Allrounders as Strategic Pressure Valves

Sri Lanka has a few batswomen who can be used to change the game with either bat or ball – Chamari Athapaththu, Kavisha Dilhari, and off-spinner Sugandika Kumari are three of them. Athapaththu is a skilled captain who can use her ability to bowl off-spin to make in-game adjustments to the team’s strategy, while Dilhari and Kumari add bowling and batting depth to help the team swing momentum in either direction. In this type of format (limited overs), when pitches begin to break and the speed bowlers start losing their edge, teams that have players like these all-rounders typically control how much momentum they gain from those types of changes. 

Spin-Led Attack Could Dictate Second Half

The bowling lineup for Sri Lanka Women will be supported by Udeshika Prabodhani (left arm), Malki Madara, and Inoka Ranaweera when the wicket begins to deteriorate. The predicted bounce in the early stages of play gives way to a sharper turn late in the innings; this can cause a great deal of difficulty for Pakistan’s middle-order batters, who may be prone to making errors under pressure. Fast bowlers must use early swing and seam movement to provide opportunities for their spin bowling quartet to build on the initial success. 

We may see both teams look to score fast early and then finish slowly with all-rounders and spinning options. In terms of the match itself, we’ll not only see which team has the most talented players, but also who has the best timing, patience, and strategic adjustments.

Key Takeaway:

Sri Lanka’s victory at Premadasa depends less on individual brilliance and more on exploiting pitch evolution and balancing aggression with patience.

FAQs

1: What is the key factor for SL-W’s success at Premadasa?

Exploiting early bounce with openers and relying on spin in the second half.

2: Why are all-rounders crucial in this match?

They offer flexible strategies, combining batting depth and bowling options under changing conditions.

3: How can the middle order influence the game?

By rotating strike and absorbing pressure as the pitch deteriorates, stabilizing or accelerating innings as needed.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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