Radha, Shafali heroics keep slate clean

Melbourne, February 29

Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav flummoxed the Sri Lankan batting line-up with a career-best 4/23 before Shafali Verma’s blistering 34-ball 47 powered India to a 7-wicket win in their last Group A match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

Opting to bat, Sri Lanka were restricted to a modest 113/9 with Radha (4/23) running through their line-up, also earning the prized scalp of skipper Chamari Atapattu. India then easily chased down the target in 14.4 overs, with Shafali top-scoring for India for the third time in four wins. The 16-year-old, who was dropped on 5 and 13, hit seven fours and one six. Shafali was unable to reach her 50, falling in the 40s for the second time in the tournament, getting run-out in the 11th over.

Harmanpreet misfires

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and opener Smriti Mandhana again squandered their good starts, departing for 15 and 17, respectively. Later Jemimah Rodrigues (15) and Deepti Sharma (15) sealed the victory.

Earlier, Sri Lanka lost opener Umesha Thimashini (2) early when she attempted big shot off Deepti Sharma. In-from skipper Chamari (33) continued to attack, hitting five fours and one six, and stitched a 30-run partnership with Harshitha Madavi (12). The introduction of Radha in the ninth over worked as immediately after hitting a six over deep mid-wicket, Chamari was caught at square-leg. The Indian spinners dominated the proceedings thereafter. — PTI