- Team India Women registers 97-run win over Sri Lanka
- Team India secured three of the four League games during the ODI Tri-Series
- Smriti Mandhana (116*) registers her 11 WODI Century
Sunday saw a thrilling final of the women’s ODI Tri-series played between India, Sri Lanka and South Africa. Team India registered a massive 97 run win over host Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
India had won three of the four league games which qualified them for the finals. Sri Lanka on the other hand had lost the last league match against South Africa, but qualified with two wins out of four games.
The Harmanpreet-led team won the toss and chose to bat first. Building on the strong batting performance throughout the tournament, the Indian openers pulled off a strong start and scored 70 runs for the first wicket. SL’s first wicket was taken by Inoka Ranaweera who took Pratika Rawal’s wicket (30). Smriti Mandhana (116 not out) scored her 11th WODI century before losing her wicket to Dewmi Vihanga.
From the Indian side, Harleen Deol (47), Harmanpreet Kaur (41) and Jemimah Rodrigues (44) played stupendously bringing India’s grand total to 342 for 7 at the end of the first innings.
From the Sri Lankan side, two wickets each were taken by Malshi Madara, Dewmi Vihanga and Sugandika Kumari. Inoka Ranaweera took one wicket.
Sri Lankan batting was off to a rough start and they lost their opener Hasini Perera on the third ball of the second innings. Going up against a mammoth score was no easy task for the Sri Lankan women but their batters did the best that they could with skipper Chamari Athapaththu scoring 51 and Nilakshi de Silva putting 48 runs on the board. Additionally, Vishmi Gunaratne (36), Harshitha Madavi (26) and Anushka Sanjeewani (28) contributed to Sri Lanka’s score. However, Indian bowlers showcased immense grit with Sneh Rana taking four wickets for 38 runs and Amanjot Kaur taking three wickets and giving off 54 runs.
The Sri Lankan team was bowled out at 245 in just 48.2 overs which made India register a 97-run victory.
