Deepti, Mithali guide India to 232/8 against Sri Lanka

Derby, Jul 5 (PTI) Deepti Sharma and skipper Mithali Raj hit fine half-centuries to help India post a decent 232 for 8 against Sri Lanka in their fourth match of the ICC Women’s World Cup, here today.
Deepti made 78 off 110 balls while Mithali (53 off 78) continued her good form with yet another 50 plus score to set the base for India’s total after the early dismissal of openers Punam Raut (16) and Smriti Mandhana (8).
Middle-order batters Veda Krishnamurthy (29) and Harmanpreet Kaur (20) stitched crucial 50 runs in just nine overs to help India get past the 230-run mark.
Electing to bat, India didn’t have the best of starts as Mandhana departed early. She was soon followed by Raut in the 11th over that brought Mithali and Deepti at the crease.
The duo first resurrected India’s innings and opened up once they got their eyes in.
They shared vital 118 runs for the third wicket to not only steady India’s innings but create the perfect launchpad for others to follow.
But just when it was time for the Indian eves to launch the attack on Sri Lankan bowlers three quick wickets dragged them back.
After the dismissal of Deepti in the 37th over, Jhulan Goswami (9), who was promoted up the order, and Mithali to fell in sucessive balls of Inoka Ranaweera’s 39th over to put brakes on India’s scoring.
But Veda and Harmanpreet took the onus upon themselves to keep up the ante before both got out in consecutive balls in the 49th over off Sripali Weerakkody to hand the Sri Lankan right-arm medium pacer, an opportunity to claim a hat-trick.
The Indian willow-wielders managed a decent 62 runs off the last 10 overs.
For Sri Lanka, Weerakkody (3/28) was the pick of the bowlers while Inoka Ranaweera (2/55) also returned with two crucial wickets. PTI