Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma were in stunning form during the fourth T20I against Sri Lanka and the duo made light work of the Lankan bowling attack. Mandhana played a fluent knock of 80 runs from 48 balls, while Shafali was equally destructive, scoring 79 off just 46 deliveries. Together, stitched a brilliant 162-run opening stand, which set up India’s huge total of 221 for 2 in the first innings.
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma record
This partnership turned out to be a record-breaker. It is now India’s highest partnership for any wicket in women’s T20 internationals and the first Indian pair to cross the 150-run mark in the format. The duo also bettered their own previous record of 143 runs, which they had scored against the West Indies in Gros Islet back in 2019. Overall, it ranks among the biggest partnerships in women’s T20Is involving full-member teams.
After choosing to bat, Mandhana and Shafali took control right from the start. They raced to 61 runs in the powerplay and kept upping the tempo as the innings progressed. Although both batters were dismissed within a short span, India were already in a strong position.
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Smriti Mandhana on partnership
Richa Ghosh was then promoted up the order, and she finished the innings in style. The aggressive batter smashed an unbeaten 40 off just 16 balls, ensuring India ended with a massive score on the board.
“The conversation with me and Shafali is very simple," Mandhana said in the mid-innings break. “We just tell each other to keep watching the ball. And the way she was going at the start, my job was to just keep her on the strike. The way she batted was brilliant to watch. Knowing Shafali, she wouldn’t be conscious of not hitting a six after 50. I think she wants to hit every ball for six. But, I mean, she has really matured as a player. Especially post six overs. She keeps talking how she wants to evolve her game."
“She came in as a child prodigy but now she’s getting into understanding her game more, understanding the situation more. And, also, she recognises more about which bowlers to hit and which areas to hit. We’ve had a lot of conversations around how she can play in terms of post six overs as well and trying to hit the pockets," Mandhana added.
India vs Sri Lanka playing XIs
India: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Vaishnavi Sharma, Renuka Singh Thakur, Shree Charani.
Sri Lanka: Hasini Perera, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Imesha Dulani, Nilakshika Silva, Kaushani Nuthyangana (wk), Malsha Shehani, Rashmika Sewwandi, Kawya Kavindi, Nimesha Madushani.