Women’s tri-series; SL record first win vs India in 7 years

Colombo, May 4

All-rounder Nilakshika Silva brought her years of experience to play during a counterattacking 33-ball 56 as Sri Lanka beat India by three wickets — their first win in seven years against their fancied rivals — in a women’s Tri-series match here on Sunday.

The victory, the islanders’ second in the tournament, helped them inch closer to the final. This was India’s first loss in the event but they are still expected to make the title clash thanks to their convincing wins in the first two matches.

Asked to bat first, India posted a competitive 275/9 riding on swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh’s 48-ball 58. Sri Lanka completed the chase with five balls to spare after slipping to 152/4 in the 33rd over.

After Nilakshika flattened India’s bowlers with her three sixes and five fours, Anushka Sanjeewani (23 not out off 28 balls) and Sugandika Kumari (19 not out off 20 balls) got the job done for Sri Lanka to push South Africa on the verge of elimination.

In the chase, Hasini Perera (22 off 27 balls) was run out after a direct throw from Deepti Sharma but Harshitha Samarawickrama (53 off 61 balls) added 78 runs for the second wicket with Vishmi Gunaratne (33 off 58 balls) to lead Sri Lanka’s response. Senior off-spinner Sneh Rana (3/45) was again India’s best bowler.

Earlier, India were off to a solid start before vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was run out for a 28-ball 18 in her 100th ODI. Opener Pratika Rawal, who hit back-to-back fifties in the previous matches, was again looking in good touch before falling for 35 off 39 balls. Harleen Deol chipped in with a 35-ball 29, while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed for a 45-ball 30. Sugandika Kumari and Chamari Athapaththu took three wickets each.

Brief scores: India: 275/9 in 50 overs (Ghosh 58; Athapaththu 3/43, Sugandika 3/44); Sri Lanka: 278/7 in 49.1 overs (Samarawickrama 53, Silva 56; Rana 3/45).