India trounces neighbour to move one step closer to next stage
INDIA has won its second match in a row at the T20 World Cup after comfortably accounting for neighbours Sri Lanka by 82 runs. India made a whopping 3/172 from its 20 overs, before bowling Sri Lanka out for just 90 on the penultimate ball of the innings.
Most of India’s runs came in the opening partnership, with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma putting together a 98 run partnership. The Indians did have a bit of a wobble when they lost their second wicket one ball later, but with a 44 run partnership to end the innings, the wobble was ultimately only minor.
It was captain Harmanpreet Kaur who topped the run tally for India with 52 not out, but Mandhana was not far behind on 50, and Verma made 43.
Meanwhile for Sri Lanka Chamari Athapaththu and Ama Kanchana were the only bowlers to take a wicket.
In the chase it was a sign of things to come for Sri Lanka when it fell to 1/0 on the second ball of the innings, then 2/4 an over and a half later, and then to 2/6 three balls after that.
Ultimately for the Sri Lankans the wickets just kept falling far too regularly and they were able to get absolutely no momentum at any stage of their innings.
Only three Sri Lankan batters made a double figure score, with only two more batters outscoring the extras tally of five. Kaveesha Dilhari was the best of the Sri Lankan batters with an innings of 21.
Meanwhile for the Indians, Arundhati Reddy continued her impressive tournament with another three wicket haul, and was the equal top wicket taker alongside Asha Sobhana.
India has saved the toughest match of the group stage to the end, with it’s final match of the group stage being against defending champions and favourites for this tournament Australia on Monday morning Australian time.
It does not get any easier for Sri Lanka, with its next match happening on Saturday night Australian time against New Zealand.