India vs Sri Lanka: Who won yesterday’s match in Women's T20 World Cup 2024?
India beat Sri Lanka by 82 runs in yesterday's ICC Women's 2024 T20 World Cup match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. With the triumph, the Women in Blue kept their semifinal hopes alive. They jumped to second place in the Group A points table while also knocking Sri Lanka out of the competition.
Batting first after winning the toss, India showed much better intent to put up 172-3, the highest team total in the ongoing edition of the Women's T20 World Cup. Openers Smriti Mandhana (50 off 38) and Shafali Verma (43 off 40) laid the foundation for India's impressive total, adding 98 in 12.4 overs.
Mandhana returned to form with a well-compiled half-century. Her knock ended when she was run-out at the non-striker's end immediately after reaching her landmark. India suffered a double blow as Shafali miscued one from Chamari Athapaththu to cover. Yet again, Jemimah Rodrigues (16) failed to convert a start.
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur, though, was in supreme form and lifted the side past the 170-run mark. The right-hander was not fluent at the start of her knock, but once she found her groove, she was unstoppable. Harmanpreet ended up smashing eight fours and a six in her unbeaten 52 off 27.
Reddy, Sobhana claim 3-fers as Sri Lanka all-out for 90
Chasing 173, Sri Lanka came up with a poor batting effort to be rolled over for just 90 in 19.5 overs. Pacer Arundhati Reddy and Asha Sobhana both claimed 3-19 from their four overs, while Renuka Singh finished with 2-16.
Renuka struck second ball, dismissing Vishmi Gunaratne (0), who was brilliantly caught by substitute fielder Radha Yadav at backward point. The wicket set the tone of Sri Lanka's innings as they never recovered from the setback. Athapaththu (1) nicked one from Shreyanka Patil and was caught at slip. Sri Lanka were three down for six when Harshitha Samarawickrama (3) was caught behind off Renuka.
Kavisha Dilhari (21), Anushka Sanjeewani (20) and Ama Kanchana (19) offered some resistance, but it was a case of too little too late. The winning moment for the Women in Blue came when Udeshika Prabodhani (9) lofted a tossed up delivery from Deepti Sharma towards mid-off.
Who was the Player of the Match in yesterday's India vs Sri Lanka Women's T20 World Cup 2024 match?
Shafali and Mandhana got India off to an excellent start with the willow. Harmanpreet then played a captain's knock to ensure the team finished with a big total. With the ball, Reddy and Sobhana stood out with their three-fers.
Team India captain Harmanpreet was deservingly named Player of the Match for her destructive half-century.