In a matter of just a few hours, post their shock and surprise loss to Bangladesh- the first in the history of the women’s game- India bounced back to defeat Sri Lanka in their next game in the Asia Cup, 2018. A contest that shall perhaps be remembered for times to come for being the game where ODI captain Mithali Raj brought up her 2000th T20 run, India women’s completed their victory over Sri Lanka by seven wickets, with as many balls to spare.
A day that belonged to Team India
You know your T20 victory is comprehensive when you win a game with 1 over to spare and that’s what made Harmanpreet’s side’s win against their sub-continental competitors Sri Lanka a memorable win.
This, in turn, meant that the Harmanpreet’s side is back to winning ways, especially after being caught napping against the rather surprising outcome against Bangladesh. The two facile victories, earlier against Malaysia and Thailand registered, India’s recent humbling of Sri Lanka proves, after all, that class is permanent while form may be temporarily phased out for a contest.
A game that quite simply belonged to the bowlers, with Ekta Bisht’s slow spinners doing the magic saw the left-armer pick two wickets as senior stateswoman of the game, Jhulan Goswami returned to wicket-taking ways, clinching a useful 1-20. The duo would be complemented by Anuja Patil and an in-form, Poonam Yadav, both vibrant campaigners in the briefest format eloping with a one-for each to put a complete brake on Sri Lanka’s scoring. None among a dull-looking Sri Lankan batting line-up barring Hasini Perera were able to contribute to the score, the left-hander contributing a watchful, dogged 46 not out.
Not enough runs on the board hurt Sri Lanka
India, smiling instantly after seeing Sri Lanka managing merely a 107 off their 20 overs, would rise in unison to cheer experienced pro Mithali Raj, who, during a successful chase would notch up and get past 2000 T20 runs, a fantastic achievement to savour. While it wasn’t a great day again for Smriti Mandhana, who managed 12 off 16 before being caught behind, it was essentially the 3rd wicket stand of 34 between Raj and Kaur that would seal the game in India’s favour.
That said, one must take a moment to observe the current glowing form of Harmanpreet, who yet again stood up in a captain’s knock, contributing through a watchful cameo, her 24 off 25 including two serene boundaries. A great day for Veda Krishnamurthy- 29 off just 23- would mean that the useful middle order batswoman contributing a handy score playing only her second game of the season.
What next for Sri Lanka, India in Asia Cup
Sri Lanka, even as they cleared the top order, bolstered by a disciplined spell by both slow left-armer Sugandika Kumari and, Oshadi Ranasinghe’s medium pacers, just didn’t have the runs on the board to muscle a staunch resistance. In a format that depends just as much as on quick breakthroughs as on quick, fiery runs should have hopefully taught Sri Lanka the vital lesson of putting hefty runs on the board. While the emotions in the Indian camp were those of smiles and grins, even as the excitement of playing Pakistan next ups the ante of thrills a little bit.
