By Jawad Hussain
KARACHI, September 19, 2018 (News925.com) – India Women edged out Sri Lanka Women by 13 runs in the first Women’s Twenty20 International played at FTZ Sports Complex in Katunayake, Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
Batting first, India made 8/168 from the allotted 20 overs. The top performers for Indian women cricket team were Taniya Bhatia, who smashed 46 runs from just 35 balls with the help of six boundaries and a maximum. Jemimah Rodriques also played a handy cameo of 36 runs from only 15 balls, hitting three fours and as many sixes in the aggressive knock. Anuja Patel also chipped in with a 29-ball knock of 36 runs whereas Veda Krishnamurthy delivered the knockout punch with a 15-ball unbeaten inning of 21 runs with the help of two boundaries and a towering six.
For Sri Lanka, Udeshika Prabodhani was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/18 whereas Chamari Atapattu also bagged 2/23 from her four overs.
Sri Lanka Women got off to a flying start. Opening batters Yasoda Mendis (32 off 12 – 5 fours, 2 sixes) and skipper Chamari Atapattu Jayangani (27 off 22 – 5 fours) smashed 39 runs from the first three overs of their innings.
However, the momentum shifted towards India as soon as the openers were back in the pavilion. Eshani Lokusuriyage (45 off 31 – 5 fours, 1 six) offered a lone fight but lacked support from the other end as the hosts were bowled out for 155 runs from 19.3 overs. Poonam Yadav was the most successful bowler for India Women as she captured 4/26. Radha Yadav (2/15) and Harmanpreet Kaur (2/19) also claimed two scalps apiece.
The second of the five-match Twenty20 International series between Sri Lanka and India will be played at Colombo on Friday.
