Captain Cool Mithali Raj and Deepti Sharma forged a 118-run third-wicket partnership as India continued its unbeaten run at the ICC Women’s World Cup with a 16-run victory over Sri Lanka.
Raj plundered four boundaries to record her 48th ODI half-century at The County Ground, Derby, whereas Sharma excelled at the crease for her sixth.
Back-to-back wickets saw Sri Lanka narrow down their opposition’s growing total as India set a target of 233, but early strikes from Jhulan Goswami and Poonam set the tone during the score defense.
It never went one-sided as the score indicates, and A well-deserved 50 for Dilani Manodara highlighted Sri Lanka’s fightback, but India held out for its fourth win from four.
Speaking about the win, Raj said: “In the middle overs we really pulled ourselves and the dot balls pushed them to score in the end. Overall, our spinners did quite well. Cricket has evolved over the years because now we need to have more all-rounders, with bowlers who can bat in the slog overs and batsmen who can pick some wickets. I’ve always enjoyed batting and stepping up when it’s required.”
Earlier, India won the toss and elected to bat, with Smriti Mandhana bringing up her 200th run of the tournament with the opening boundary knock of the match before being caught out for eight by Shashikala Siriwardena.
A disciplined Sri Lanka outfield made it tough work for the Indian batters to score runs, but Raj and Sharma steadily chipped away at the runs.
Their century stand came after 82 minutes – India’s third of the tournament so far – and Raj clocked her half-century from 71 before Sharma was caught for 78 in the same over.
Just when India was looking to exploit after steady foundation, a touch of brilliance from Sri Lanka captain Inoka Ranaweera saw the left-arm spinner dispatch Raj and Goswami in successive balls.
And then it was Seamer Sripali Weerakkody who brought her wicket tally up to three as first Harmanpreet Kaur and then Veda Krishnamurthy were caught to end their 50-run partnership.
Chasing 233 runs to win, Sri Lanka’s innings didn’t get off to the best start as Mandhana juggled a catch to see an early Hasini Perera departure.
Chamari Athapaththu, who scored the innings of the tournament so far, a 178 against hosts England, added four boundaries to her tournament-leading haul as Sri Lanka settled into an attack, but she was left reeling as she swung for a Yadav ball that clattered into the stumps.
With these early wickets, It became an uphill battle for the chasers from then on in as Nipuni Hansika followed her team’s talisman from the wicket as Sri Lanka struggled to cope with Yadav’s sublime deliveries.
Sri Lanka’s wickets continued to fall, and despite Manodara’s half-century, their slow start on the crease ultimately proved costly.
Speaking in the post match ceremony, Captain Ranaweera said: “We have had good matches against India, so I’m disappointed about our performance today, but we hope to do our best in the next game. We made a lot of mistakes. Sripali Weerakkody bowled really well today.”
Scores
India 232-8 from 50 overs (Deepti Sharma 78; Mithali Raj 53; Poonam 2-23; Jhulan Goswami 2-26) beat Sri Lanka 216-7 from 50 overs (Dilani Manodara 61; Shashikala Siriwardena 37; Nipuni Hansika 29; Sripali Weerakkody 3-28; Inoka Ranaweera 2-55) by 16 runs.
Player of the match – Deepti Sharma (India)
Next matches – Sri Lanka v West Indies, The County Ground, Derby, 9 July; India v South Africa, Grace Road, 8 July
Points Table
| TEAM | PLAYED | WON | LOST | NR | POINTS | NRR |
| Australia | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1.35 |
| India | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0.91 |
| England | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1.50 |
| South Africa | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1.16 |
| New Zealand | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0.51 |
| Sri Lanka | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -1.16 |
| Pakistan | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -2.04 |
| West Indies | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -2.18 |