DUBAI: Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Manchana’s half-centuries, coupled with a combined bowling effort led India to a crushing victory over Sri Lanka in the 12th match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Set to chase a daunting 173-run target, Sri Lanka’s strong batting unit unfolded on a meagre 90 in 19.5 overs.
Sri Lanka had a disastrous start to the run chase as they lost three wickets inside three overs including skipper Chamari Athapaththu with just six runs on the board.
Following the slump, Anushka Sanjeewani combined with Kavisha Dilhari to launch a recovery.
The duo stitched a gutsy 37-run partnership for the fourth wicket but until Sanjeewani fell victim to Asha Sobhana in the eighth over after scoring 20 off 22.
Dilhari then put on a brief partnership with Nilakshika Silva (8) before Arundhati Reddy outclassed her in the 12th over. She remained the top-scorer for Sri Lanka with a 22-ball 21.
Ama Kanchana then offered some resilience down the order with a 19-run knock but her efforts were far from pulling off a miracle for Sri Lanka.
Sobhana and Reddy bagged three wickets each for India, followed by Renuka Singh, who picked up two. Shreyanka Patil and Deepti Sharma shared two wickets between them.
India skipper Kaur’s decision to bat first after winning the toss bore fruits as her side piled up 172/3 in the allotted 20 overs.
Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave India a flying start to their innings, courtesy of their 98-run stand, which saw the former amassing her half-century.
The duo dominated Sri Lanka bowlers but perished on successive deliveries in the 13th over.
Mandhana scored a well-crafted 50 off 38 deliveries with the help of four fours and a six while Verma made a 40-ball 43, laced up with four fours.
Following the back-to-back dismissals, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur put on a brief 30-run partnership for the third wicket with Jemimah Rodrigues, who fell victim to Ama Kanchana in the 17th over after a 10-ball 16.
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Kaur, fuelled with momentum, continued to dominate Sri Lanka bowlers and brought up her well-deserved half-century with a four on the final delivery of the innings.
She struck eight fours and a six on her way to an unbeaten 27-ball 52.
Kaur was supported at the backend by wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, who made an unbeaten six off as many deliveries.
For Sri Lanka, Kanchana and skipper Chamari Athapaththu could pick up a wicket apiece.
The 82-run victory lifted India to second in Group A standings of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 with four points in three matches while Sri Lanka remained at the bottom with zero points in as many matches.
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