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Harmanpreet Kaur-led India took an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three-T20I series against Sri Lanka with a five-wicket win at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla. Sri Lanka had the batting collapse to blame for their loss as they lost seven wickets for 38 runs towards the end of the innings. Useful contributions from skipper Harmanpreet and Smriti Mandhana ensured that India get over the line comfortably.
Attacking start
Chasing 126, India got off to a fiery start. Shafali Verma looked to score quickly. However, her cameo ended in the fourth over. Oshadi Ranasinghe got the wicket with the new ball. Similarly, Sabbhineni Meghana looked to score quickly. After a duck in the previous game, Meghana looked to attack and hit four boundaries in her 10-ball 17. She got stumped out in the sixth over to Sugandika Kumari in the sixth over.
Harmanpreet takes India home
Skipper Harmanpreet and Mandhana did not let the run chase derail. While India were cruising towards the target, they lost two quick wickets. Mandhana got out in the 11th over for a 34-ball 39. Jemimah Rodrigues got out for a single-digit score as well. But Harmanpreet led the run chase with wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia. Even after Bhatia's wicket, there was no panic in the middle. Harmanpreet remained not out for 32 and guided India over the line with five balls to spare.
Openers lay platform
Earlier Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and opted to bat first. Sri Lankan openers got off to an ideal start. In 12 overs, they had 82 runs on the board and looked set to post a total close to 150. However, Pooja Vastrakar got the much-needed breakthrough for India in the 14th over to get Athapaththu out. The opener scored 43 runs from 41 deliveries including seven fours and one six.
Collapse spoils Sri Lanka's chances
From 87/1, Sri Lanka suffered a batting collapse and failed to capitalise in the slog overs. Vishmi Gunaratne succumbed to the pressure and lost her wicket to Harmanpreet. She scored 45 runs from 50 deliveries. After going for runs in her first three overs, Deepti made a comeback and took two wickets in the 18th over. Radha Yadav and Renuka Singh got one wicket each as Sri Lanka posted a respectable total of 125/7.
