Sri Lanka women were hauled out for a total of 178 in the 2nd ODI against hosts India in Ranchi earlier today, after choosing to bat on a characteristically slow pitch. The Indian top order managed to chase down the target quite easily ultimately, for the loss of just 4 wickets.
Batting 1st Sri Lanka’s opening pair put on 27 runs before Vice-captain Chamari Atapattu was dismissed by 18 year old medium pacer Deepti Sharma. Once again, her dismissal brought about a more cautious approach and the next 18 overs went for just 37 runs. When the top scorer from the last game, Prasadini Weerakkody was dismissed for 37, Sri Lanka were 64/2 in 23.3 overs. 4 quick wickets followed, including that of Skipper Shashikala Siriwardene, as Sri Lanka got themselves into a rut and it seemed unlikely that they would bat out their 50 overs. However, Dilani Manodara and Eshani Lokusuriya put on a 49 run partnership at a reasonable rate to bring some respectability to the performance. Although Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals, they managed to bat out their full quota of overs, with Manodara remaining unbeaten on 43. In a less than flattering performance once again by the batters, none of the top 6 except Lasanthi Madushani (who faced just 9 deliveries) was able to register a strike rate of over 55.
For India, it was Sharma and the two spinners Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Poonam Yadav who did most of the damage, with Sharma picking up her maiden 4 wicket haul.
Smriti Mandhana and Thirush Kamini started proceedings off for the Indian innings, looking to make as many runs as possible before the spinners came on. They scored at a brisk rate and when Kamini was dismissed, Captain Mithali Raj took the reins for the hosts. Mandhana fell just short of her 2nd fifty of the series but Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur took India to the brink of victory. Suganthika Kumari struck twice in quick succession to dismiss both Kaur and Veda Krishnamurthy but could not prevent India from cantering to an easy win.
Kumari and skipper Siriwardene were the only bowlers who looked threatening, with the former picking up all four wickets to fall.
India picked up a further 2 points in the Women’s Championship, extending their lead over bottom ranked Sri Lanka and Pakistan and taking them to within 2 points of South Africa and England who are ranked 4th and 5th in the table.
Scores:
Sri Lanka 178/9 (50) Dilani Manodara 43, Prasadini Weerakkody 37, Deepti Sharma 4/23
India 19/4 (43.1) Mithali Raj 53, Smiti Mandhana 46, Sugandika Kumari 4/39
Result – India won by 6 wickets (with 41 balls remaining)
