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GUWAHATI: All-round Deepti Sharma powered India to a victory against Sri Lanka women in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 opener here at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Set a revised 271-run target as per the DLS method, Sri Lanka were booked for 211 in 45.4 overs.
After losing Hasini Perera in the sixth over, skipper Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama added 52 runs for the second wicket to revive the Islanders’ chase.
Once, Chamari Athapaththu fell, Sri Lanka’s momentum dipped, and India seized control of the innings with wickets at regular intervals.
She remained the top-scorer with 43 from 47 balls, striking three sixes and four boundaries.
For India, Deepti Sharma stood tall up with the ball, picking up three wickets which set the tone for an impressive victory.
Earlier, Inoka Ranaweera took an impressive four-wicket haul, but fighting half-centuries from Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma helped India women set a strong total.
Put into bat first, India chalked up 269-8 in a rain-affected clash reduced to 47 overs per side.
Sri Lanka removed dangerous Smriti Mandhana in the third over before a 67-run stand between Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol lifted the team’s total to 81 in 19.2 overs.
The stand eventually culminated with Rawal’s wicket, who managed to score 37 from 59 balls with the aid of three fours and a six.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur arrived at the crease and added a brief 39-run partnership with Deol, which brought the total to 120 in 25 overs.
However, Inoka Ranaweera’s three-wicket over sparked a collapse that slumped India to 124-6 in 27 overs.
Left-arm spinner Ranaweera removed Harleen Deol (48 from 64 balls) and Jemimah Rodrigues (0) on successive deliveries, followed by a massive wicket of captain Kaul on the last ball of the 25th over. Kaur departed after scoring 21 from 19 balls.
In the next over, Chamari Athapaththu removed Richa Ghosh for two to peg back India.
Yet, India managed to post a good total, courtesy of Deepti Sharma’s and Amanjot Kaur’s 103 partnership. Sharma made 53 from 53 with the aid of three fours, whereas Kaur was impressive with her gutsy 57 from 56 balls, striking five fours and a six.
For Sri Lanka, Inoka Ranaweera stood up with the ball, picking up a four-wicket haul. Udeshika Prabodhani supported her well with two scalps.
