The Indian women’s team secured a dominant 2-0 lead in the five-match series against Sri Lanka. This crucial match took place in Visakhapatnam on a batting-friendly flat deck. A clinical performance from the spinners followed by Shafali Verma’s batting guided the hosts to a comfortable victory.
Indian Spinners Restrict Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first but struggled to build any real momentum. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu started with great intent during the early PowerPlay overs. However, the introduction of Sneh Rana changed the game’s tempo very quickly. Rana replaced an ill Deepti Sharma and bowled with incredible discipline.
She dismissed Athapaththu in the final PowerPlay over to break the visitors’ spirit. After this key wicket, the Sri Lankan innings began its familiar unraveling process. India vs Sri Lanka matches often highlight the tactical strength of India’s spin department in home conditions. Sree Charani and Vaishnavi Sharma claimed two wickets each to keep the pressure high. Three costly run-outs further damaged the visitors’ progress. Sri Lanka eventually finished with a sub-par total of 128/9.
Shafali Verma’s Explosive Batting Performance
India’s chase began with a small flutter after the early loss of Smriti Mandhana for 16. However, any hopes of a Sri Lankan comeback were quickly snuffed out by Shafali Verma. Verma played with total disdain for the Sri Lankan bowling attack from the very first ball. She hammered boundaries against experienced bowlers like Inoka Ranaweera and Shashini Gimhani.
The young opener reached her aggressive half-century in just 27 deliveries. This India vs Sri Lanka clash showed Verma at her most destructive best. She hit a sequence of 4, 6, and 4 in one over against the opposition captain. Her unbeaten 69 ensured the chase remained a mere formality for the home side.
Clinical Finish and Series Outlook
Jemimah Rodrigues supported Verma well by playing the perfect foil at the other end. Rodrigues used the sweep shot effectively to keep the scoreboard ticking. India lost Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur near the finish line, but the result was never in doubt. They reached the target in only the 12th over with plenty of balls to spare.
This victory highlights the massive gap in class between the two Asian sides. India looks like the heavy favorites to win this India vs Sri Lanka series convincingly. The visitors must find a way to stop India’s top order if they want to stay alive in the upcoming games.
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