Credit: ICC
India have started their Women’s World Cup campaign with a dominating 59-run win over Sri Lanka on the DLS method in Guwahati. Earlier, at the toss, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu emerged victorious against Harmnapreet Kaur and elected to field first. The rain affected the length of the game as both teams got 47 overs per side to bat. India lost their star opener Smriti Mandhana in the fourth over as she lost her wicket against the left-arm pacer Udeshika Prabodhani after scoring only eight runs. Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol stitched a 67-run stand for the third wicket off 96 balls and brought the hosts back on track. Rawal went back to the dugout after notching up 37 off 59.
Left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera bagged the opener’s scalp and after winning her battle against Rawal, she got rid of Deol, captain Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues. Deol fell two runs short from her fifty after facing 64 balls while Jemimah Rodrigues got cleaned up and followed Harleen to the pavilion with a one-ball duck. Harmanpreet also fell against the spin wizard in the same over after amassing 21 off 19. The next over Richa Ghosh got trapped by Sri Lanka skipper Athapaththu, who got her caught by Sugandika Kumari.
Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma helped India make a comeback
With India reeling at a score of 124/6 in 27 overs, Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur held her nerves and built a 103-run partnership for the seventh wicket, to help India cross the 200-run mark. Amanjot made a valiant contribution of 57 off 56 while Deepti stood at the crease and displayed composure with Sneh Rana to take India to 269/8 runs in 47 overs. Sneh went back to the dugout unbeaten with her score of 28 off 15.
Defending the 270-run total, as per the updated chase for Sri Lanka on DLS method, India pacer Kranti Goud dismissed Sri Lanka opener Hasini Peera early but the 52-run stand between Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama gave a headache to the home side. However, Deepti again stepped up and broke the partnership, getting rid of the Sri Lanka captain for 43 off 47.
Following their skipper’s fall, Sri Lanka kept on losing wickets in regular intervals and capitulated at a total of 211 in 45.4 overs. Nilakshi de Silva strove to put up a fight with her 35 off 29 but Sneh Rana cleaned her up and almost ended Sri Lanka's winning chances. Deepti emerged as the most effective bowler for India, registering 3/54 figures in her 10 overs. Sharma's all-round efforts also made her the player of the match (POTM).
