5 hours Ago By Thilina Walpola
Sri Lanka women’s team beat their Indian counterparts for the first time in seven years as Harshitha Samarawickrama and Nilakshika Silva with vital half centuries and the eighth wicket pair of Anushka Sanjeewani and Sugandika Kumari with a valuable partnership excelled for the hosts in the Tri Nation tournament match on Sunday. Chasing a target of 276 runs to win Sri Lanka were seven wickets down for 238 runs but the eighth wicket pair of Anushka Sanjeewani and Sugandika Kumari kept their cool to reach the target with five balls to spare. Put to bat, India made 275 for nine on the back of a 48-ball 58 from Richa Ghosh.
In their essay Sri Lanka’s batting clicked together as they recorded their second-highest successful chase. It was also their third win over India in the format. Vishmi Gunaratne contributed with 33 runs.
Dilhari made a quick fire 35. Anushka Sanjeewani and Sugandika Kumari put on an unfinished partnership. Kumari was the more impressive of the two, as she breezed her way to 19 not out off 20 – her highest international score.
Sanjeewani made 23 not out off 28, and hit the winning runs. Chief among the big performers was Silva, who produced arguably the innings of her career so far. She signalled her intentions early – fourth ball, she leapt down the track to Sneh Rana, India’s form bowler, and muscled her over long-on for six.
This was only one of three big hits, as she motored her way to a 28-ball 50, hitting five fours as well, targeting the square boundaries either side of the wicket, though she also hit two fours through fine leg. Her best six came off left-arm spinner Shree Charani, whom she ran at and thumped over long-on. No other Sri Lanka batter cleared the rope.
When Silva arrived at the crease at Athapaththu’s dismissal, Sri Lanka needed 124 off 107 deliveries. When she was dismissed, they needed 38 off 44. India still had the opportunity to charge back into the game at this point, but Kumari’s early boundaries kept Sri Lanka surging, and Sanjeewani added heft to that final partnership.
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