India strengthened their chances of reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup with an emphatic 82-run victory over Sri Lanka, eliminating the latter from the tournament. This victory comes after India’s initial loss to New Zealand, followed by a crucial win over Pakistan.
India, now second in Group A, trails behind Australia but boasts a superior net run rate of 0.58, just ahead of Pakistan, who have played one less match.
India Sets a High Target
India won the toss and set a tournament-high target of 172-3. Smriti Mandhana (50) and Shafali Verma (43) built a strong foundation with a 98-run partnership, frustrating the Sri Lankan bowlers. Sri Lanka finally broke the stand with a run-out of Mandhana, followed by Verma’s dismissal on the next ball.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, recovering from a minor neck injury sustained during the Pakistan match, played a key role, smashing 52 runs off 27 balls, including eight boundaries and a massive 84-meter six. India’s final push added 59 runs in the last five overs, leaving Sri Lanka a daunting total to chase.
Sri Lanka’s Struggles
Sri Lanka’s chase started disastrously, with opener Vishmi Gunaratne falling for a duck. Renuka Singh took two quick wickets, and Sri Lanka stumbled to 6-3 early in the innings. Chamari Athapaththu, Sri Lanka’s captain, was dismissed shortly after by Shreyanka Patil.
Sri Lanka’s batters never recovered, eventually being bowled out for 90. Kavisha Dilhari (21) and Anushka Sanjeewani (20) were the top contributors, but the team failed to mount a serious challenge to India’s total.
Arundhati Reddy and Asha Sobhana both impressed with identical bowling figures of 3-19, leading India to a commanding win.
Kaur’s Reaction
Player of the Match, Harmanpreet Kaur, said, “After losing two back-to-back wickets, Jemimiah and I were focused on how to steer the innings. I was in the zone, wanting to be there for the team. We played positively and executed good cricket.”
Kaur’s unbeaten half-century helped India surpass their previous best T20 World Cup win—a 79-run victory against Bangladesh in 2014—while also boosting their net run rate to 0.576.
What’s Next
India will face Australia in a high-stakes match on Sunday in Sharjah, with the game set to be broadcast live on Sky Sports at 2.30 pm. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will take on New Zealand on Saturday in a crucial match for the White Ferns.
India’s powerful performance leaves them in a strong position as they aim for a spot in the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup.