India thrash Sri Lanka to increase semi-final chances

DUBAI: India beat Sri Lanka by 82 runs on Wednesday in their third match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, increasing their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals.

INDIA’S INNINGS

The women in blue batted first, putting on a stunning performance and making the highest total of the tournament so far. Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana started off hesitant in the first couple overs. But not long after Verma found her stroke, hitting a four, three overs in a row. Mandhana joined in on the fun in the sixth, hitting a four of her own. After getting acquainted with the boundary, the Indian opener hit the teams fist six of the tournament in the very next over, belting the ball over wide long-on.

Mandhana would continue to find the boundary in the next couple overs. India’s total by the end of the 12th was 93 for 0. They then got their first taste of adversity in the 13th. Sri Lanka would get two wickets on back to back balls, dismissing both of India’s openers. Mandhana would be run out, ending the 98 run partnership. Verma would be sent off right after, as the ball came off the edge of her bat to cover, making for an easy catch for Vishmi Gunaratne. Verma and Mandhana made 43 and 50 runs respectively.

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In came Jemimah Rodrigues, who made her presence felt immediately, hitting two fours in the next two overs. Sri Lanka would have a chance to deal another blow to India, after Rodrigues shot the ball to deep mid-wicket, right at a fielder. However, she wouldn’t be able to make the catch, fumbling the ball and the opportunity to turn the match around.

India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur would then hit a pair of boundarties in the over. First a four over the mid on fielder, and then a six over deep midwicket fence.

Ama Kanchana would get Rodrigues out in the 17th over, after the Indian batter was caught out by Inoshi Priyadharshani, as she tried to slice the ball towards point. Despite the wicket, India were sitting comfortably at the end of the over with 133 runs. A decent total already, but Kaur wasn’t done putting on a show. She hit a barrage of boundaries in the remaining overs, with back to back boundaries in both the 19th and 20th over. The Indian skipper would end the innings making a half century, with a total of 52 runs off just 27 balls. India’s total would be a dominant and intimidating 172, losing only three wickets in the process.

SRI LANKA’S INNINGS

India’s bowlers didn’t allow Sri Lanka to even dream of winning, taking three wickets in the first three overs. Sri Lankan opener Vishmi Gunaratne would be the first to fall, after Radha Yadav, who subbed in for Kaur, made a magnificent diving catch off a delivery from Renuka Singh. Chamari Athapaththu would be dismissed in the next over, being caught out by Deepti Sharma on a delivery from spinner Sheryanka Patil, which found the outside edge of the bat.

Harshita Samarawickrama would be sent off after wicket-keeper Richa Ghosh caught a delivery from Singh, which nicked the bat.

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Sri Lanka were struggling, and Anushka Sanjeewani fell in the eighth over after being stumped, to add to their despair. Two more would fall in the 12. Both Nilakshika Silva and Kavisha Dilhari would be caught out on deliveries from Arundhati Reddy. Sugandika Kumari and Priyadharshani would come in, and be dismissed almost immediately.

Sri Lanka had no hope of reaching the total by the time their last two wickets fell in the 19th and 20th over. They were all out for 90, losing by 82 runs.

India got a much needed win to bolster their semi-final chances, while Sri Lanka lost a must win game, ending their hopes of advancing in the T20 World Cup.

INDIA’S playing XI: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Sajeevan Sajana, Arundhati Reddy, Sheryanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Singh

SRI LANKA’S playing XI: Vishni Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu, Harshita Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani, Nilakshika Silva, Ama Kanchana, Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoka Ranaweera