ICC Women’s World Cup
Guwahati, Sep 30: The experience of Deepti Sharma was on full display as she struck a composed half-century alongside debutant Amanjot Kaur before taking a decisive three-wicket haul to help India overcome early hiccups and seal a 59-run win over Sri Lanka via DLS method in their Women’s World Cup opener here on Tuesday.
For Sri Lanka, it was a case of missed opportunities. Having put India into bat, they had the game in their grasp when Harmanpreet Kaur and Co slipped to 124/6 with four wickets falling in the space of two overs.
But sloppy fielding let them down as the Indian middle and lower order capitalised to post a challenging 270-run target in 47 overs, after rain interruptions spanning nearly 90 minutes reduced the contest to a curtailed affair.In reply, Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu looked ominous, striking the ball cleanly in her 43 off 47 but after her dismissal the innings lost the momentum and eventually ended at 211 in 45.4 overs.Playing without senior pacer Renuka Singh, India’s bowling unit showed promise with Deepti leading from the front.The new-ball duo of youngster Kranti Goud and Amanjot Kaur struck with a wicket apiece. Ably marshalled by Deepti, the three-pronged spin attack extracted sharp turn from a dry surface that had stayed under covers for over an hour due to rain interruptions.Sneh Rana returned figures of 2/32, while rookie left-arm spinner Shree Charani impressed with 2/37 from her eight overs.For Sri Lanka, Chamari was the standout batter. She repeatedly found the middle of the bat, punishing Deepti with two sixes and as many fours across successive overs.But the Indian all-rounder had the last laugh. Coming around the wicket with a plan, she bowled full, flat, and quick and Chamari, looking to whip through the on-side, played all around it and missed, her stumps rattled. (PTI)
BRIEF SCORE
India: 269 for 8 in 47 overs (Amanjot Kaur 57, Deepti Sharma 53; Inoka Ranaweera 4/46).
Sri Lanka: 211 all out in 45.4 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 43, Nilakshika Silva 35; Deepti Sharma 3/54, Sneh Rana 2/32, Shree Charani 2/37).
