Following a brilliant performance by the spinners led by Sneh Rana, India took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series by defeating Sri Lanka by seven wickets with 49 balls to spare in the second women’s T20 International, thanks to the aggressive batting of Shefali Verma.
After restricting Sri Lanka to 128 for nine, India achieved the target in 11.5 overs for the loss of three wickets.
Shefali remained unbeaten on 69 runs off 34 balls, hitting 11 fours and a six. During her brilliant innings, she shared a 58-run partnership for the second wicket with Jemimah Rodrigues (26 runs off 15 balls) in just 28 balls.
She also added 29 runs in 20 balls for the first wicket with Smriti Mandhana (14 runs off 11 balls) and 41 runs in 24 balls for the third wicket with captain Harmanpreet Kaur (10 runs off 12 balls).
Earlier, Sneh Rana dismissed Sri Lankan captain Chamari Atapattu, conceding only 11 runs in her four overs. She received good support from young spinners Vaishnavi Sharma and Shri Charani, both of whom took two wickets each.
Despite useful contributions from Harshitha Samarawickrama (33 runs off 32 balls) and Atapattu (31 off 24), the Sri Lankan team could never gain a grip on the match.
Samarawickrama added 44 runs for the third wicket with Hasini Perera (22), while Atapattu had earlier added 36 runs for the second wicket with Perera.
Chasing the target, Smriti Mandhana (14) made an aggressive start by hitting a four against Kavya Kavindi in the second over and then a six against Malaki Madara, but she was sent back to the pavilion off the first ball of the fourth over by Kavisha Dilhari.
Jemimah hit a four as soon as she arrived at the crease, while from the other end, Shefali hit two consecutive fours against Inoka Ranaweera. She then hit a four, a six, and another four off consecutive balls against Atapattu in the sixth over, taking India’s score to 68 for one wicket during the powerplay.
From the other end, Jemimah maintained the run rate by hitting a four and a six against Ranaweera.
Jemimah was caught by Kavisha off Kavya’s delivery while attempting a big shot. Jemimah’s dismissal did not affect Shefali, whose aggressive batting helped the team complete the century of runs in the ninth over itself.
She completed her 12th half-century in this format off 27 balls in the next over, hitting two consecutive fours against Kavya.
With the scores level, Harmanpreet was bowled by Madara, but Richa Ghosh stole a single to secure victory for the team.
Earlier, after deciding to bowl, Kranti gave India a great start by dismissing Vishmi Gunaratne (one) in the very first over. However, Atapattu hit a four and a six off her next over before sending the ball over the deep square leg boundary off Arundhati Reddy.
Atapattu was caught by Amanjot Kaur off Rana’s delivery in the sixth over while attempting a big shot, providing relief to the Indian bowlers after Deepti Sharma fell ill.
Samarawickrama, arriving at the crease, welcomed Vaishnavi Sharma in the eighth over with a hat-trick of fours. From the other end, Perera maintained the run rate with a four against Kranti.
Rana’s next over was a maiden, leaving Sri Lanka at 66 for two after 10 overs.
The Indian bowlers then kept the batters from hitting boundaries, a benefit Shri Charani reaped with Perera’s wicket.
Samarawickrama completed Sri Lanka’s century of runs with a four off Shri Charani’s bowling in the 17th over but was run out on the next ball due to a brilliant throw by Amanjot.
