Dambulla, June 25: A brilliant comeback from the bowlers in the first innings followed by a smashing start by the top order batters helped India Women beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the second T20I and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, here on Saturday.
It was India’s 12th T20I win in a row against Sri Lanka Women, which started in February, 2016.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Openers laid a solid foundation for Sri Lanka. Vishmi Gunaratne set the tone with three boundaries in two overs while Chamari Athapaththu smashed a six and a four in the last over of the Powerplay.
Despite not picking up a wicket in the first six overs, Indian bowlers managed to sneak in a few dot balls as Sri Lanka went a little over run-a-ball. Athapaththu was given a lifeline when India dropped her at the stroke of the halfway mark. She made the visitors pay by striking two boundaries each in the next two overs.
Just after the pair surpassed the record for the highest first-wicket partnership for Sri Lanka in Women’s T20I, Pooja Vastrakar broke the 87-run stand as Athapaththu’s flick went straight into the hands of Radha Yadav at deep square leg.
The wicket of the skipper set the cat amongst the pigeons as the rest of the batters failed to capitalise on the tremendous start provided by the openers. Like her opening partner, Vishmi Gunaratne too departed in her 40s.
Deepti Sharma, who had gone for 30 runs in her first three overs, made up with the wickets of Harshitha Samarawickrama and Nilakshi de Silva in the 18th over. Sri Lanka fell short of a strong total, finishing at 125/7.
Chasing a modest 126 for the win, Smriti Mandhana made her intent clear by smashing the first ball of the innings for a four while Shafali Verma wasn’t going to be left behind as she plundered two fours and a six in her cameo of 17 runs that came in 10 balls.
Sabbhineni Meghana carried on from where Shafali left off, smashing Udeshika Prabodhani for four boundaries in an over. Though she fell in the last over of the Powerplay, India sat comfortably in their chase at 52/2.
The end of the fielding restrictions had little effect on Mandhana’s approach, as she collected five fours in the next five overs to take Sri Lanka completely out of the game. Her knock came to an end when she was stumped off the bowling of Inoka Ranaweera.
The wicket came late for Sri Lanka, with India needing less than five runs an over at that point. Jemimah Rodrigues went back for just 3.
With India needing 15 off the last three overs, Harmanpreet Kaur (31 not out off 32) batted through to guide India to a win with five wickets and balls to spare. (IANS)
