India produced a stunning all-round performance to boost their semi-final hopes and knock Sri Lanka out of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Set an imposing 173 to win in Dubai, Sri Lanka slumped to 6-3 and then crawled to 90 all out in 19.5 overs as India secured a ruthless 82-run victory.
Opener Smriti Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur struck fine half-centuries as India posted 172-3 – the highest team total of the tournament so far.
Kaur was dropped on 22 and brutally punished a weary Sri Lanka, finishing unbeaten on 52 from 27 balls.
The match-winning total was set up by Smriti’s 36-ball fifty in a chanceless opening stand of 98 with Shafali Verma, who made 43.
Sri Lanka’s slim hopes of victory lay on the shoulders of star all-rounder Chamari Athapaththu, but they suffered a horror start with the captain falling for just one after fellow opener Vishmi Gunaratne was brilliantly caught by Radha Yadav from the second ball of the chase.
India continued to thoroughly outclass their opponents in all aspects of the game, bowling with relentless discipline and taking every opportunity in the field as leg-spinner Asha Sobhana and all-rounder Arundhati Reddy both claimed 3-19.
The margin of victory significantly boosts India’s net run-rate after their opening heavy defeat by New Zealand, but they still have defending champions Australia to play on Sunday as they seek a top-two finish in the Group A table.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will hope to end their campaign on a high when they face New Zealand on Saturday.
More to follow.
