Eshani Kaushalya slams 31-ball fifty as Sri Lanka eves set India 283 for victory

Eshani Kaushalya threw caution to the wind in the death overs with a blazing 31-ball half-century (56) as Sri Lanka eves posted a formidable score of 282 for 5 off their allotted 50 overs in a crucial ICC Women’s World Cup match against India at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Kaushalya, whose superb 56 shaped up Sri Lanka’s stunning win over reigning champions England in their opening game, took the Indian attack to the cleaners, particularly handing out severe punishment to Shubhlakshmi Sharma, who was included in place of Nagarajan Niranjana and left-arm spinner Gouher Sultana.

She collected 17 off the final over of Sultana, which included two overs and a six.

Earlier, Sri Lankan women, batting first after winning the toss, started on a bellicose note as opener Chamari Jayangani cover-drove Jhulan Goswami for a boundary off the first ball of the innings before the bowler exacted revenge, inducing the batswoman to waft at a delivery and was gobbled at first slip by captain Mithali Raj.

Chamari Jayangani and Yasoda Mendis had put on a century stand (103 runs) against England but Jhulan’s early strike was crucial for India.

But Mendis hung in and along with Deepika Rasangika took the fight out of India. Amita Sharma kept things tight at one end while Jhulan, despite the early breakthrough, sprayed the ball around and leaked boundaries with increasing regularity.

Mendis was involved in a century stand for the second consecutive time with Rasangika – the duo putting on 117 runs for the second wicket before Amit Sharma nipped her out but not before she notched up her first fifty of the 2013 World Cup after missing out in the opening tie.

Indian had an opportunity to run through the Sri Lankan middle-order but Rasangika and Shashikala Siriwardene worked their way forging a half-century stand, milking the ones and twos besides finding the boundary ropes on a regular basis.

Rasangika, who batted lower down the order (at number 9 against England) in the first tie, appeared set for a well-deserved century but the Jhulan-Mithali combo prised her out in the 40th over.

Shashikala Siriwardene received staunch support from the in-form Kaushalya as the pair kept the run rate moving at a fair clip before Siriwardene was run out for 59.

India eves really have a mountain to climb as they chase 283 for victory. A lot will rest on the shoulders of captain Mithali Raj and vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur.