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In a Women's Tri-series match played Sri Lanka notched up a memorable three-wicket win over India, marking their first ODI win against their formidable rivals in seven years. This win was propelled by an experienced all-rounder, Nilakshika Silva, who delivered a counter-attacking innings of 56 runs off just 33 balls.
This win, the second for the islanders in the tournament, brings them closer to securing a spot in the final. While this was India's first defeat in the event, their strong performances in the initial two matches are expected to be enough to see them through to the title clash.
After being asked to bat first, India managed to post a competitive total of 275 runs for the loss of nine wickets. This was largely due to a dynamic innings from wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who scored a brisk 58 runs off 48 deliveries.
Despite a wobble in their chase, slipping to 152 for four in the 33rd over, the Sri Lankan team held their nerve. They successfully chased down the target with five balls remaining, showcasing resilience and determination to secure the historic win.
Following Nilakshika Silva's aggressive onslaught against the Indian bowlers, which included three towering sixes and five well-placed boundaries, the pair of Anushka Sanjeewani (who remained unbeaten on 23 off 28 balls) and Sugandika Kumari (who scored an unbeaten 19 off 20 balls) calmly guided Sri Lanka to victory. Their composed finish significantly pushed the third team in the tri-series, South Africa, closer to elimination.
During the chase, Sri Lanka lost Hasini Perera (22 off 27 balls) to a sharp direct hit from Deepti Sharma, resulting in a run-out. However, Harshitha Samarawickrama then forged a crucial 78-run partnership for the second wicket with Vishmi Gunaratne, who contributed 33 runs off 58 balls, effectively spearheading Sri Lanka's response.
Just as Vishmi Gunaratne appeared set for a substantial score, her innings was cut short by Arundhati Reddy. A thick outside edge off Gunaratne's bat led to a well-executed running catch by substitute fielder Amanjot Kaur.
Harshitha Samarawickrama, who played a significant innings of 53 runs off 61 balls, including five boundaries, was then dismissed at a critical juncture by part-time off-spinner Pratika Rawal, leaving the match finely poised. Harshitha was visibly disappointed with her dismissal, as she struck a lofted delivery directly to Arundhati Reddy at cover.
Captain Chamari Athapaththu (who scored 23 runs off 33 balls) then joined Kavisha Dilhari in the middle, and together they continued the pursuit of the 276-run target, aiming to bring Sri Lanka closer to securing a place in the tournament final.
However, their progress was halted when experienced off-spinner Sneh Rana, who finished with figures of 3 for 45, dismissed Chamari Athapaththu. Rana bowled a classic off-break delivery that spun away from the left-handed batter, catching a faint outside edge that carried through to the wicketkeeper.
Despite this setback, Nilakshika Silva, followed by the composed contributions of Anushka Sanjeewani and Sugandika Kumari, remained steadfast under pressure. Their calm and collected approach ultimately dashed India's hopes of victory.
Earlier in the match, India began their innings steadily before vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was unfortunately run out for 18 runs off 28 balls, in what marked her 100th appearance in this format. Opener Pratika Rawal, who had shown excellent form with consecutive half-centuries in the preceding matches of the series, once again looked comfortable at the crease. However, her innings was cut short when she was trapped leg before wicket by left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera after scoring a brisk 35 runs from 39 deliveries.
Harleen Deol contributed a useful 29 runs off 35 balls before being dismissed by part-time bowler Dewmi Vihanga. Meanwhile, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was also unable to convert her start into a big score, falling for 30 runs off 45 balls to left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari. Chamari Athapaththu and Sugandika Kumari proved to be Sri Lanka's most effective bowlers, each claiming three wickets to play a crucial role in restricting the Indian batting lineup.
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