Indian Women Defeat Sri Lanka By 13 Runs In First T20
Indian women cricket team 168/8 in 20 overs (Taniya Bhatia 46, Jemimah Rodrigues 36; Udeshika Prabodhani 18/2, Chamari Athapaththu 23/2) beats Sri Lanka Women by 13 runs (155 all out in 19.3 overs (Eshani Lokusuriyage 45, Yasoda Mendis 32; Poonam Yadav 4-26, Radha Yadav 2-15)
Indian women cricket team Match Highlights:
- India defeated Sri Lanka by 13 runs
- India dismissed Sri Lanka for 155 while defending 168
- Poonam Yadav took 4-26 with Taniya Bhatia starring with the bat with 46
- Rodrigues became the first Indian woman to hit three sixes in an over
The Indian women cricket team kick-started their five-match T20 series against Sri Lanka with a 13 run victory. Riding on the back of spinner Poonam Yadav’s 4-26; India took a 1-0 lead in the series. Earlier in the day, India had registered a strong 168-8 off their 20 overs with contributions from Taniya Bhatia and Anuja Patil.
India got off to the worst start possible with opener Smriti Madhana departing for a duck. That was soon forgotten though with Rodrigues who stepped in at No.3. Taking the attack to the Sri Lankan bowlers, she teed off to give India the perfect reply to the early setback. Rodrigues blasted off in a whirlwind inning of 36 off 15 balls as she became the first ever Indian woman cricketer to hit three sixes in an over.
Fiery knocks from Taniya Patil and Anuja Patil followed up to help set the tone for the Indian innings while batting first. With Bhatia(46 off35) pairing up with Patil(36 off 29) at the bottom of the innings for a 67 run stand to stabilize a middle over crisis to provide India with the perfect ending to the innings, the Indian bowlers knew that they had been provided with a strong and healthy total to defend.
Sri Lanka wasn’t awed by the 169 that stood in front of them though. Coming out as aggressors, Mendis and Athapathu giving the hosts a flying start. Mendis was in no mood to hang around, smacking a 12-ball 32, studded with five fours and two sixes.
The crucial breakthrough came for India with Reddy breaking the partnership before Poonam Yadav took over the match. Wrecking through Sri Lanka’s batting line-up; Yadav took 4-26 to give India a crucial 1-0 lead in the series.
The two sides will face off on Friday, 21st September next for the second T20 in Colombo.
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