Anuja, Jemimah hand India 7-wicket win, seal series

Colombo, September 24 

Anuja Patil and Jemimah Rodrigues smashed unbeaten half-centuries to take the Indian women’s team to a series-sealing win over hosts Sri Lanka in a rain-affected fourth T20I.

Anuja (3/36) helped India reduce Sri Lanka to 134/5 in a 17-over-a-side contest. Shashikala Siriwardene top-scored for Sri Lanka with 40 off 32 balls. 

India chased down the target with more than an over to spare and seven wickets in hand, thanks to Anuja (54*) and teenager Jemimah  (52*). It was a second successive half-century for the 18-year-old Jemimah, who had hammered.

India were 56/3 after seven overs, needing 79 off the last 10 overs. Anuja and Jemimah completed the task with ease, sharing a 96-run stand off 70 balls. Rodrigues hit five fours and two sixes while Anuja’s knock comprised seven boundaries.

India had lost three wickets for 41 runs in the first four overs before Anuja and Jemimah came up with a match-winning effort.  

With the second T20I being washed out, India have now taken a 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The final match will be played on Tuesday. 

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka: 134/5 in 17 overs (Shashikala Siriwardene 40; Anuja Patil 3/36); India: 137/3 in 15.2 overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 52*, Anuja Patil 54*). — PTI