India produced a fantastic all-round effort to improve their chances for their semi-final aspirations and eliminate Sri Lanka from the Women’s T20 World Cup. In Dubai, Sri Lanka collapsed to 6-3 after being set a daunting 173 to win, and in 19.5 overs, they were all out as India won mercilessly by 82 runs. Sri Lanka is no longer able to go to the semifinals, having lost all three of its Group A matches.
Smriti Mandhana and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur both scored half-centuries as India compiled 172-3, the tournament’s best team total so far. Smriti’s 36-ball fifty helped set up the match-winning total in a chanceless opening partnership of 98 with Shafali Verma, who scored 43. Sri Lanka’s minor chances of victory rested on the shoulders of star all-rounder Chamari Athapaththu. But they got off to a poor start and ended up extremely disappointed.
India Wins By 82, Runs in the Final Over
India continued to outperform their opponents in all parts of the game, bowling with discipline and using every opportunity on the field. The Sri Lankan dangerous combo of Chamari Athapaththu (1) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (3) was eliminated early, putting India on the path to victory. As Sri Lanka was knocked out for 90, every Indian bowler contributed very well.
On the other side, India was in command after a fiery first-innings effort. But the drama got worse on the second ball of Renuka Singh‘s opening over when Gunaratne skied a shot high into the Dubai sky. Also, the fielder Yadav produced a moment of magic to hold on to a diving catch. Her teammates’ reactions said it all, as a great India quickly regained control of the game.
Shreyanka Patil delivered the critical punch, pulling the outside edge from Sri Lanka skipper Athapaththu (1), who shook her head in disappointment as the competition progressed. Renuka scored her second of the innings, leaving Samarawickrama (3) with an edge behind. Sri Lanka put their best in the game. Thanks to determined performances by Anushka Sanjeewani (20), Kavisha Dilhari (21), and Ama Kanchana (19), the needed rate had long since become impossible.
Historic Inning by Indian Skipper
Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss against Sri Lanka in Dubai and decided to bat first. The opening Indian bats took advantage of the opportunity to score more runs. Their method helped them win the powerplay in the end. In reaction to Sri Lanka’s spin-heavy approach, Shafali Verma set the tone early. Smriti Mandhana came in after allowing herself some space.
Mandhana hit the game’s first maximum, and the two stayed in the middle of the innings as the score reached 78/0. Mandhana reached her half-century, but Sri Lanka reacted with two wickets in two balls, dismissing Mandhana for 50 and Verma for 43. Harmanpreet Kaur‘s innings were perhaps the greatest of the tournament so far. The Indian captain struck nine boundaries to end undefeated on 52 from only 27 deliveries, bringing her team’s total to 172/3, the highest so far in the World Cup.
Wrap-Up
The margin of victory greatly improves India’s net run rate after their initial huge defeat by New Zealand, but they still face defending champions Australia on Sunday as they aim for a top-two finish in Group A. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will look to complete their campaign on a strong note when they meet New Zealand on Saturday.
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