Harmanpreet and Mandhana as well as Shafali has orchestrated the India’s NRR-boosting victory
India scored 172/3 in 20 overs, where as Sri Lanka scored 90 in 19.5 overs.
So, finally India beat Sri Lanka by 82 runs.
India flexed their batting prowess to avenge their Asia Cup defeat to Sri Lanka with a commanding 82-run victory at the Dubai International Stadium.
This win—India’s largest by runs in Women’s T20 World Cup history—propelled their Net Run Rate past New Zealand’s, a crucial advantage as they vie for a semifinal spot in the final round of Group A fixtures.
The result also sealed Sri Lanka’s exit from the tournament after their third consecutive loss.
India’s top-order batting finally clicked after some inconsistent performances earlier in the tournament.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (52* off 27) and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (50 off 38) struck key half-centuries, while Shafali Verma’s brisk 43 set the tone for a 98-run opening stand.
India posted a formidable 172/3—the highest total in the tournament thus far—which proved far beyond Sri Lanka’s reach, as they continued to struggle with their batting form.
After choosing to bat first, India got off to a cautious start, with Shafali Verma breaking the early shackles by chipping Udeshika Prabodhani over extra cover for a boundary in the third over.
Mandhana, after a slow start, opened up in the final over of the Power Play, smashing Sugandika Kumari down the ground to push India’s total to 41 after six overs.
Mandhana’s knock was defined by her sublime off-side play, shuffling across the crease to hit balls pitched outside leg-stump inside-out over extra cover.
After lofting Inoka Ranaweera for India’s first six of the tournament, she overtook Verma in the scoring and raised her half-century in 36 balls.
The pair’s record-equalling 20th fifty-run stand in T20Is ended in the 13th over when Mandhana was run-out, shortly followed by Verma’s dismissal as India lost both openers in quick succession.
India regained momentum quickly, with Harmanpreet taking charge.
While Mandhana had peppered the off-side, Harmanpreet chose brute power, hitting slogs and swipes through cow corner.
Her 27-ball half-century—her fastest in T20 World Cups and an Indian record—came off a flurry of boundaries, ensuring India finished strongly.
India’s fielding, often criticized in the past, was spot-on from the start, with Radha Yadav taking a superb diving catch to dismiss Vishmi Gunaratne.
Renuka Thakur and Shreyanka Patil added early breakthroughs, including the crucial wicket of Chamari Athapaththu.
Sri Lanka collapsed to 3 for 10 within the first 14 balls, effectively ending their chase.
With the goal of restricting Sri Lanka below 127 to edge New Zealand on NRR, India’s bowlers delivered in style.
Asha Sobhana and Arundhati Reddy both took 3 for 19 as India bowled Sri Lanka out for 90, completing a dominant win and strengthening their semifinal hopes.
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