India Women tightened their grip on the five-match T20I series with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. After their bowlers dismantled the visitors for a below-par 128, opener Shafali Verma blasted an unbeaten 69 off just 34 balls to chase down the target in a mere 11.5 overs, handing India a 2-0 lead.
Bowlers Set the Tone with Stranglehold
Electing to bowl first, India never allowed Sri Lanka to breathe. The wickets fell at regular intervals from the very start, with Kranti Gaud striking in the first over. While skipper Chamari Athapaththu (31 off 24) provided a brief spark, her dismissal to Sneh Rana triggered a middle-order collapse.
The spinners, Shree Charani (2/23) and Vaishnavi Sharma (2/32), applied relentless pressure, restricting Sri Lanka to a modest 128 for 9.
Bowlers took responsibility and put us in a good situation.
Shafali's Onslaught and a Record Chase
In response, India came out with explosive intent. Despite Smriti Mandhana's early departure, Shafali Verm took center stage. She combined power with surprising restraint, finding the boundary with ease. Partnering with the in-form Jemimah Rodrigues (26 off 15), she propelled India to 113 in the first 10 overs, the highest Powerplay score in women's T20I history.
Shafali raced to a 27-ball half-century and finished unbeaten on 69, having smashed 11 fours and a six.
I learnt today that I can keep the ball on the ground and still score... it's important to accept things. That's the only way you can improve.
Richa Ghosh hit the winning run with 49 balls to spare, marking India's second-largest win over Sri Lanka in terms of balls remaining.
Looking Ahead
A disappointed Sri Lankan captain, Chamari Athapaththu, rued her team's inability to build partnerships or accelerate. "We have to score more than 150 while batting first," she admitted. The action now shifts to Thiruvananthapuram for the crucial third T20I on Friday, where India will look to seal the series.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka Women 128/9 in 20 overs (Samarawickrama 33, Athapaththu 32; Charani 2-23) lost to India Women 129/3 in 11.5 overs (Shafali Verma 69*, Rodrigues 26; Dilhari 1-15) by 7 wickets.
