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| BCCI |
On a slightly cooler evening in Dubai, India delivered a commanding performance to crush Sri Lanka by 82 runs, ensuring their hopes of semi-final qualification remained alive in the T20 World Cup 2024. A clinical display of batting, led by Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur, followed by a dominant bowling effort, saw India post 172 for 3 and bowl Sri Lanka out for 90, sending the Asia Cup champions out of the tournament.
India’s Impressive Batting Display
Batting first, India’s opening duo of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma got off to a solid start. Although Sri Lanka’s spinners initially made run-scoring difficult, Shafali broke free with aerial shots, while Mandhana played cautiously before accelerating. Mandhana smashed a half-century as India ended the powerplay at 41 for no loss. Their 98-run opening stand set the tone for India's highest total of this World Cup.
After Mandhana’s run-out on 50 and Shafali’s dismissal in the same over, Harmanpreet Kaur stepped up, hammering 52 not out off 27 balls to ensure India finished strong. Jemimah Rodrigues chipped in with a vital 16 off 10 as Harmanpreet cut loose in the final overs. India’s late charge saw them score 46 runs in the last four overs, with Harmanpreet showcasing her power hitting.
Sri Lanka Stumble in Chase
Sri Lanka, known for their strong performances since April, struggled from the very beginning. Renuka Singh and Shreyanka Patil made early inroads, while Radha Yadav’s brilliant catch on the second ball of the innings set the tone. Sri Lanka’s key batters, including Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama, were dismissed cheaply, leaving the chase in disarray.
The spin duo of Asha Sobhana and Arundhati Reddy picked up three wickets each, with Asha removing Anushka Sanjeewani in a clever stumping. Sri Lanka folded for 90, marking their third consecutive match with a double-digit total. India's bowling was sharp, and their fielding, especially Radha’s efforts, was exceptional throughout.
This commanding win boosted India's net run rate to 0.576, bettering Pakistan and trailing only Australia in the group standings. India will face Australia in their final league match on Sunday, where a win could secure their place in the semi-finals.
