India Women Thrash Sri Lanka Women by 82 Runs to Boost Semi-Final Hopes in T20 World Cup
India put on a dominant performance to knock Sri Lanka out of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, securing an emphatic 82-run win in Dubai. The result lifted India’s net run rate to 0.576, boosting their hopes of semi-final qualification with one match left in the group stage.
India Women: 172/3 (Harmanpreet 52*, Mandhana 50, Shafali 43, Athapaththu 1-34)
Sri Lanka Women: 90 all out (Dilhari 21, Sanjeewani 20, Reddy 3-19, Asha 3-19)
India Women beat Sri Lanka Women by 82 runs
After winning the toss and opting to bat, India’s openers laid a solid foundation with a 98-run stand, their third-highest in T20 World Cups. Shafali Verma (43 off 40) and Smriti Mandhana (50 off 38) started steadily but accelerated after the powerplay. Mandhana, in particular, found her rhythm after the six-over mark, hitting two crucial sixes, including one over wide long-on off Inoka Ranaweera. India finished the powerplay at 41/0, with Mandhana finding form as the innings progressed.
Sri Lanka briefly stemmed the flow of runs with two quick wickets, as Athapaththu dismissed Mandhana and Shafali in consecutive deliveries, but India’s middle order was ready to capitalize. Harmanpreet Kaur, coming in at No. 3, was in aggressive mode, blasting 52 off just 27 balls. She plundered two boundaries in the final two overs, taking India to a formidable 172/3—the highest total of the tournament thus far.
Sri Lanka’s bowling attack struggled to contain the Indian batters. Chamari Athapaththu (1-34) tried to vary her tactics but found little success, while Inoka Ranaweera and Sugandika Kumari were expensive in the middle overs.
In reply, Sri Lanka’s chase never gained momentum. India’s bowlers were on the money from the start, with Renuka Singh (2/16) and Shreyanka Patil (1/15) striking in the powerplay. Patil’s quicker delivery accounted for the Sri Lankan captain, Athapaththu, while Renuka got rid of the dangerous Harshitha Samarawickrama early, reducing Sri Lanka to 20/2 in the third over.
Leg-spinner Asha Sobhana (3/19) and Arundhati Reddy (3/19) then took control in the middle overs, picking up wickets regularly. Asha’s sharp spin did the damage, with her best moment coming when she deceived Anushka Sanjeewani (20) with a well-flighted delivery that resulted in a stumping by Richa Ghosh.
Sri Lanka’s innings ended at 90, with only two batters, Dilhari (21) and Sanjeewani (20), managing double figures. India’s bowlers were clinical, restricting Sri Lanka to a paltry total and securing an 82-run victory.
India’s complete performance—led by stellar batting from Mandhana, Harmanpreet, and Shafali, and brilliant bowling from Reddy and Asha—put them firmly back in contention for the semi-finals. The win was a massive boost to their net run rate, making their final group game against Australia on Sunday a crucial encounter.
