Thiruvananthapuram – Captain Harmanpreet Kaur played a match-winning knock of 68 runs off 43 balls as India Women secured a comprehensive 15-run victory over Sri Lanka Women in the fifth T20 International at Greenfield Stadium on Tuesday.
The hosts posted a competitive total of 175/7 in their allotted 20 overs before restricting the visitors to 160/7, clinching the match with a confident performance that showcased their batting depth and bowling prowess.
Harmanpreet Kaur Anchors India’s Innings With Fighting 68
After Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl first, India Women found themselves in early trouble. The opening partnership collapsed quickly with Shafali Verma departing for just 5 runs in the second over, caught by Imesha Dulani off Nimasha Meepage’s bowling.
The wobble continued as Gunalan Kamalini fell for 12, caught by Kavisha Dilhari, leaving India struggling at 27/2. However, Harmanpreet Kaur walked in and immediately took control of the innings.
“We needed someone to stabilize the innings and Harmanpreet did exactly that,” Vegas11 News quoted a team source as saying after the match. “Her experience showed in those crucial middle overs.”
The Indian captain found an able partner in Harleen Deol, who contributed a valuable 13 runs before being dismissed. Harmanpreet then accelerated the scoring rate, striking 9 fours and 1 six during her 43-ball stay at the crease. Her strike rate of 158.14 put immense pressure on the Sri Lankan bowlers.
Lower Order Fires India Past 175-Run Mark
After Harmanpreet’s departure at 142/7, the responsibility fell on the lower middle order. Amanjot Kaur played a crucial cameo of 21 off 18 balls with a strike rate of 116.67, while Arundhati Reddy remained unbeaten on 27 from just 11 deliveries, smashing 4 fours and 1 six.
Sneh Rana also contributed an unbeaten 8 off 6 balls as India finished on 175/7. The extras column added 9 runs, including 1 no-ball and 8 wides, which proved costly for Sri Lanka.
For the visitors, captain Chamari Athapaththu led the bowling attack with figures of 3-0-21-2, while Rashmika Sewwandi claimed 4-0-42-2. Malki Madara, Nimasha Meepage, Kavisha Dilhari, and Inoka Ranaweera picked up one wicket each.
Sri Lanka Fall Short Despite Hasini Perera’s Explosive Start
Chasing 176 runs for victory, Sri Lanka openers Hasini Perera and Chamari Athapaththu got off to a flying start. Perera was particularly aggressive, smashing 65 runs off 42 balls with 8 fours and 1 six at a blistering strike rate of 154.76.
However, once the openers were separated, the Sri Lankan innings lost momentum. Chamari Athapaththu managed only 2 runs before being caught by Deepti Sharma off Arundhati Reddy’s bowling.
Imesha Dulani fought hard with a 39-ball 50, including 8 fours, but wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Nilakshi de Silva scored a quick 3 off 5 balls, while Kavisha Dilhari contributed 5 from 4 deliveries. Vegas11 News analysis suggests that the middle-order collapse proved decisive in the final outcome.
Harshitha Samarawickrama added 8 runs, Kaushani Nuthyangana made 1, and Rashmika Sewwandi remained unbeaten on 14 off 8 balls. Malki Madara finished not out on 5, but the damage had been done. Sri Lanka managed 160/7 in their 20 overs, falling 15 runs short of the target.
Indian Bowlers Execute Plans to Perfection
The Indian bowling unit displayed discipline and variation throughout the Sri Lankan chase. Deepti Sharma was the pick of the bowlers with impressive figures of 4-0-28-1, maintaining an economy rate of 7.00 runs per over.
Arundhati Reddy struck twice, conceding 16 runs in her 2 overs at an economy of 8.00. The spin duo of Sneh Rana and Vaishnavi Sharma bowled identical spells of 4-0-31-1 and 4-0-33-1 respectively.
Nallapureddy Charani and Amanjot Kaur chipped in with one wicket each, finishing with economy rates of 7.75 and 8.50 respectively. The disciplined bowling performance ensured that despite Perera’s pyrotechnics at the top, Sri Lanka never truly threatened to overhaul the target.
Harmanpreet Kaur Named Player of the Match
For her match-defining innings of 68 runs, Harmanpreet Kaur was named Player of the Match. The Indian captain’s ability to absorb pressure and then counter-attack proved to be the difference between the two sides.
“It was important to build partnerships and ensure we posted a competitive total,” Harmanpreet said in the post-match presentation. “The bowlers then backed up our efforts brilliantly.”
Shafali Verma was awarded Player of the Series for her consistent performances throughout the T20 series, which India won 5-0.
Key Moments That Defined the Match
Several pivotal moments shaped the outcome of this T20 encounter. Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision to consolidate after early wickets rather than panic proved crucial. Her partnership with Harleen Deol steadied the innings before the lower order fireworks propelled India past 175.
The dismissal of Chamari Athapaththu for just 2 runs was another turning point. The Sri Lankan captain’s failure to convert her start meant the visitors lost their most experienced batter early in the chase.
India’s disciplined bowling in the middle overs, particularly from Deepti Sharma and the spinners, created pressure that led to wickets at regular intervals. This clinical performance sealed the victory for the hosts.
The comprehensive victory highlighted India Women’s dominance in the bilateral series. Playing at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, the home team demonstrated their superiority in all departments of the game, reinforcing their position as one of the leading forces in women’s cricket.