Dubai, Oct 9 (UNI) India posted a remarkable total of 172 runs, surpassing their score from the Asia Cup final earlier this year by seven runs against Sri Lanka in a very crucial Women's T20 World Cup match here on Wednesday.
The Indian innings started cautiously, with opener Smriti Mandhana initially struggling to find her timing during the powerplay. However, Shafali Verma's aggressive batting provided crucial momentum, as she hit several boundaries to help India conclude the powerplay without losing a wicket, finishing with 41 runs on the board.
As the innings progressed, Mandhana found her rhythm, showcasing her skill with a series of inside-out shots. She eventually outscored her opening partner, reaching a well-deserved half-century.
Unfortunately for India, the departure of both openers came in quick succession, with Athapaththu claiming one wicket via a run-out, allowing Sri Lanka to regain some control over the match.
Despite the setback, Jemimah Rodrigues stepped in and delivered a spirited performance, unleashing an array of splendid sweep shots to contribute a quickfire 16 runs.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur began her innings slowly but dramatically increased her scoring rate during the death overs, smashing the Sri Lankan pacers with powerful shots down the ground and across the line, ultimately reaching her fifty off just 27 balls.
With this impressive total, India is focused on improving their net run rate (NRR), knowing they must secure victory by a margin of at least 45 runs to achieve their target.
As they head into the latter stages of the match, India’s performance has certainly put them in a commanding position, showcasing their depth and resilience in the batting department.
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