The Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Team suffered their third consecutive defeat in Women’s T20 World Cup, at the hands of the Indian Women’s Cricket team by 7 wickets today, 29th February at Junction Oval Ground in Melbourne. With this defeat, Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Team is knocked out of the tournament as they now have no chance of qualifying for the knockout stage.
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The Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapatthu won the toss and opted to bat first expecting to showcase a better batting display this time after two consecutive average performances with the bat against New Zealand (127) and Australia (122) in the previous two encounters.
The skipper Chamari Athapatthu and the 18-year old Umesha Thimashini opened the innings for Sri Lanka but they couldn’t provide a solid start as the latter was dismissed for just 2 runs in the 3rd over. Athapatthu and number three batswoman Harshitha Madavi steadied the innings building a 30-run partnership for the second wicket.
However, after their dismissals, the Sri Lankan batting lineup collapsed once again and restricted for 113 runs for 9 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. The skipper Athapatthu top-scored again, as usual, 33 runs off 24 balls with 5 fours and a six at a strike rate of 137.50.
In addition, middle-order batswomen Kavisha Dilhari contributed with unbeaten 25 runs off 16 balls including 2 fours. The left-arm spinner Radha Yadav who is only 19-years old was the star with the ball for the Indians as she picked up 4 scalps for 23 runs. The other left-arm spinner in the team, Rajeshwari Gayakwad managed to take 2 more wickets for just 18 runs.
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Chasing a modest total of 114 runs to win, the Indian openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana got off to a solid start putting 34 runs in 4.4 overs. Then the match-winning partnership was built between the opener Verma and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur for the second wicket as they added 47 runs off 30 balls.
The Indian women’s team chased down the target with ease in 14.4 overs with 7 wickets in hand. The opening batswoman Shafali Verma top-scored with a knock of 47 runs which came off 34 balls with 7 fours and a six at a strike rate of 138.
The left-arm seamer Udeshika Prabodhani who has been the most impressive Sri Lankan bowler throughout the tournament did well again with a reasonable spell of 1 wicket for 13 runs in 4 overs. The off-spinner Shashikala Siriwardene picked up the other wicket.
The Sri Lanka Women will face the Bangladesh Women in their last game of Women’s T20 World Cup on 02nd March at the same venue. Keep logged on to ThePapare.com for all the live updates, match reports and information on ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
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Brief Score
Sri Lanka Women – 113/9 (20) Chamari Athapatthu 33, Kavisha Dilhari 25*, Shashikala Siriwardene 13, Radha Yadav 4/23, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2/18
India Women – 116/3 (14.4) Shafali Verma 47, Smriti Mandhana 17, Deepti Sharma 15*, Udeshika Prabodhani 1/13, Shashikala Siriwardene 1/42
Result – India Women won by 7 wickets
