SL-W vs IND-W | 2nd T20I | India Women seals series against Sri Lanka

After a comprehensive victory in the 1st T20, India Women have successfully pocketed another win in the 2nd T20 against Sri Lanka Women at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. After winning the toss, Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu decided to bat first. India had a couple of changes in their squad, with Yastika Bhatia and debutant Simran Bahadur coming in place of Richa Ghosh and Rajeshwari Gayakwad. 

Gunaratne provided a good start to the Sri Lankan team, and gradually, the experienced Sri Lankan captain Athapaththu took the lead. However, the Indian bowlers were economical during the powerplay, and Sri Lankan openers could score 37 runs off it without any loss. 

The openers got off to a flying start forming a partnership of 87 runs in 83 deliveries which is also their highest opening partnership. In the 14th over, Pooja Vastrakar came back into the attack and dismissed the Sri Lankan skipper 43 (41). Setting the foundation strong, Sri Lankan batters were eyeing to put above 140 on the scoreboard. 

In the 17th over, Indian Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur got hold of the set batter Gunaratne 45 (50), which eventually turned the tables for Sri Lanka. 

Despite a couple of dropped catches and misfields by the Indian team, the Lioness could score only 19 runs in the last three overs and lost 5 wickets. Eventually, the Kaur-led side restricted them to a chasable target of 126 runs. Deepti Sharma scalped two wickets, and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was most economical with the ball, conceding only 12 runs of her three overs with a crucial scalp of Gunaratne.

Arriving for the chase, Smriti Mandhana took charge and started playing attacking shots in the first over. Not an ideal opening partnership but little cameos by Shafali Verma 17 (10) and S. Meghna 17 (10) helped her from the other end. However, India capitalized on the powerplay as they scored 52 runs at the loss of two wickets.

Mandhana and Kaur’s 38 runs partnership in the middle overs brought India closer to the target. After achieving the milestone of being the 5th Indian to score 2000 plus runs in T20I, the elegant southpaw 39  (34) got stumped on a ball by Ranaweera in the 11th over.

Sri Lankan bowlers did fight well with the ball and got wickets at regular intervals. The fielders goofed up a lot as they missed a few run-out chances, and a 23-run partnership between Harmanpreet Kaur and Yastika Bhatia set the tone for the chase in the end. With three runs needed off the last over, the Kaur finished things off with a boundary off Dilhari.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s all-round performance with the bat and ball helped India chase the target with ease. The 'Women in Blue' have won the three-match series by taking a 2-0 lead and will certainly target to whitewash the hosts.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka 125-7  (20 overs; V Gunaratne 45, C Athapaththu 43; D Sharma 2-34)

India 127-5  (19.1 overs; S Mandhana 39, H Kaur 31*; I Ranaweera 2-18)