INDW vs SLW Ball by Ball Commentary

6:59 AM IST Right. That ends another double header from this World Cup. India zoom to lead Group A, awaiting the second team from Group B to meet in the semi-final. We might come to know that on Sunday. South Africa meet Pakistan at 3 pm local (0400 GMT), followed by the England-West Indies clash at 7 pm local (0800 GMT). The caravan moves to the Sydney Showground Stadium, the venue of the opening match of the World Cup. Join us on 1st March, 2020 for all the fun. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

6:54 AM IST Victorious Indian captain, Harmanpreet Kaur says that winning every game is important and one cannot lose the momentum at any cost. On the bowling unit complimenting each other, Kaur says that they understood the pitch very well and did not give much loose balls. On her own form not quite striking gold, Harmanpreet smiles and hopes that she saves her best for the final. But adds that in this game, she felt in good touch. On Shafali Verma being given the license to go hard at the top, Kaur says that they do not want to restrict anyone from playing their natural game and praises her for giving good starts at the top. Hopes that she continues playing in the same manner.

6:53 AM IST Sri Lankan skipper, Chamari Atapattu, says that 113 was not enough to defend as 125-130 was a good score on this wicket. But also adds that Shafali Verma was a big wicket on this deck. Laments the dropped catches. On her own form with the bat, Atapattu admits that she got a start but could not carry on. Reckons that if she had stayed longer, they could have crossed 150. On meeting Bangladesh next, who nearly outclassed New Zealand earlier, Chamari says that they just look to play positively in every game and is confident that if they do that, they can beat Bangladesh.

6:51 AM IST RADHA YADAV HAS BEEN NAMED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. Says that she was just thinking to keep it simple and bowl stump-to-stump. Hopes that India keep the winning momentum going. On Atapattu going great guns in the Powerplay, Radha says that she just focussed on bowling it in the right areas. On her competition with Poonam Yadav, Radha shyly says that Poonam is a legend.

6:51 AM IST Earlier in the afternoon, Sri Lanka huffed and puffed their way to 113. Given the way the NZ-Ban game went, where 91 was defended, one felt it was a good score. It was an innings of starts with Atapattu scoring the most again. Radha Yadav strut her stuff, with 4 wickets. Please stay tuned for the presentation...

6:50 AM IST It really looked as if the Lankans were intimidated by the Indian openers. They never got their lines and lengths right and at times when they did, their fielders let them down, dropping simple catches. Udeshika Prabodhani was the only bowler who could hold her head high, with figures of 4-0-13-1. The rest were below average.

6:48 AM IST Shafali Verma played with freedom, as always, galloping in the Powerplay. Smriti Mandhana made the mistake of complimenting her and paid the price. That did not hurt India in terms of this game but the aim to get batting practice got hurt a bit. Shafali took the limelight, scoring a brisk 47 and the others batted around her.

6:45 AM IST Chasing modest targets like 114 can always put the batters in two minds. But Mr. Raman had instructed his girls pretty well. No fuss, no double minds. Go out, play your natural, attacking game and gun this total down with ease. That is exactly what his unit did.

6:43 AM IST Now, that is what you call a comprehensive win. 7 wickets and 32 balls to spare. It is four out of four for India in this World Cup and they are now looking like the team to beat. They have topped Group A in style.

6:42 AM IST FOUR! WHACK! There come the winning runs! Full and outside off, Deepti gets down and mows a slog sweep over mid-wicket. INDIA ARE VICTORIOUS BY 7 WICKETS!

6:41 AM IST Comes down the track and pushes it towards long on for one more.

6:41 AM IST Around middle, pushed towards long on for a run. There is a bad throw at the bowler's end and Deepti wants the overthrow but the throw is backed up at cover.

6:40 AM IST Full and outside off, worked through mid-wicket for a single.

6:40 AM IST Umesha Thimashini to bowl now.

6:39 AM IST Full and outside off, Jemimah comes down the track and works it through mid-wicket for one more.

6:38 AM IST Pushes this towards long on for another single.

6:38 AM IST Comes down the track again and pushes it towards long on for one.

6:38 AM IST DROPPED! Another sitter is down. Full and around off, Rodrigues comes down the track and chips this straight to short mid-wicket. Chamari Atpattu leaps and takes the catch, but the ball pops out.

6:37 AM IST Full and outside off, Deepti reaches out and slog sweeps it towards deep mid-wicket for a run.

6:36 AM IST Full and outside off, worked towards long on for a single.

6:36 AM IST Full and outside off, swept towards deep mid-wicket for another single.

6:35 AM IST SAFE. Outside off, Deepti plays it towards point and sets off for a single. Rodrigues responds and so does the fielder. There is a direct hit at the striker's end and the run out appeal is referred upstairs. Just one replay needed to confirm that Jemimah is well in.

6:35 AM IST There is a direct hit referred upstairs but seems that Rodrigues is well in. Yup. Just one replay is enough.

6:34 AM IST Goes back and works it through mid-wicket for one.

6:33 AM IST FOUR! HANDSOME! Full and outside off, Rodrigues leans and drives it through the covers!

6:33 AM IST Goes back and pushes this through mid-wicket for a run.

6:32 AM IST Full on middle, worked through mid-wicket for a single.

6:32 AM IST Shashikala Siriwardene returns. 3-0-33-1 so far.

6:31 AM IST Full and around middle, Deepti looks to defend but the ball straightens, takes the outside edge and goes through the vacant slip cordon towards short third man.

6:31 AM IST FOUR! Finally gets one away. Full and outside off, Deepti comes down the track and swings it over mid-wicket for a boundary!

6:30 AM IST Full and down the leg side, Sharma misses her flick and is hit on the pads.

6:30 AM IST Full and down the leg side, flicked through mid-wicket for a run.

6:29 AM IST Full and straight, Deepti prods but the ball skids through, takes the inside edge and pops towards the leg side. A single taken.

6:29 AM IST Full and around off, watchfully defended.

6:28 AM IST Kavisha Dilhari is back on. 1-0-7-0 so far.

6:28 AM IST Works this through the leg side for a single.

6:28 AM IST Outside off, punched towards cover.

6:27 AM IST Deepti Sharma walks in now.

6:27 AM IST OUT! RUN OUT! Hard to criticize after a terrific knock but this is school cricket. Rodrigues pushes it towards mid on and sets off for a single. Shafali is looking at the fielder and then starts to run. The fielder collects the ball and then throws it to the keeper. She collects and disturbs the stumps. The run out appeal is referred upstairs and replays find Verma well short.

6:25 AM IST Is that a run out? Shafali has her head up in despair. Referred upstairs. Yes. She is gone.

6:24 AM IST Around off, watchfully defended.

6:24 AM IST A short ball, pulled away for a run.

6:23 AM IST Works this through mid-wicket for a single.

6:23 AM IST Udeshika Prabodhani is back on. 3-0-10-1 so far.

6:22 AM IST FOUR BYES! Does not help when the striker is batting at a parallel location to you. Shafali is batting well across her stumps and then is going back, behind the stumps, in the same region as the keeper is. Only a couple of feet away. The bowler fires this outside off and Verma swings. The keeper is busy saving her head from the shot and the bat. Hence, as Verma misses, the keeper misses too. The ball races to the fence behind.

6:21 AM IST Full and outside off, Rodrigues looks to defend but the ball goes off the inside edge, onto the pads and deflects to the leg side. A quick run taken.

6:21 AM IST Jemimah Rodrigues comes in for the final rites.

6:20 AM IST OUT! CAUGHT. Kaur falls. Full and around off, the skipper comes down the track, looks to go big but cannot clear long on. Simple catch for Hansima Karunaratne. The quickfire 47-un stand is broken. Just 32 more needed from 62 balls.

6:19 AM IST Full and outside off, steered towards short third man.

6:19 AM IST Works this through mid-wicket for a single.

6:18 AM IST WIDE. Short and outside off, Verma looks to cut but is beaten as the ball stays low.

6:18 AM IST WIDE. Miles outside off, left alone.

6:18 AM IST FOUR! That is audacious batting. A short ball, outside off, Shafali gets well across, goes outside the pitch and then pulls it over short fine leg!

6:17 AM IST Shashikala Siriwardene is back on. 2-0-25-0 so far.

6:16 AM IST Short and outside off, cut straight to point.

6:16 AM IST She is literally playing a shot every ball. Full and outside off, Verma comes down the track and pummels this down to long on for a single.

6:15 AM IST Outside off, punched straight to cover.

6:15 AM IST Full and outside off, SV thinks this will be a wide and lets it go but the ball comes in and is legal.

6:15 AM IST Another long hop. The Lankans are intimidated. Verma pulls this through mid-wicket and nearly finds the boundary, but it is stopped in the deep. Two runs taken. Not the best of running between the wickets, with both the batters looking at the ball and nearly colliding into one another.

6:14 AM IST FOUR! It is raining boundaries. Short and outside off, Shafali goes back and cuts it through the covers!

6:13 AM IST Kavisha Dilhari to bowl now.

6:12 AM IST Outside off, punched towards point. 15 from the over.

6:12 AM IST FOUR! She goes again! Full and outside off, Kaur gets down and slog sweeps it over mid-wicket!

6:11 AM IST SIX! WALLOP! A full toss, Kaur gets down and mows a slog sweep over mid-wicket! That is one thing which Harmanpreet does really well. Punishes the bad balls.

6:10 AM IST FOUR! Just what Kaur needed. Something that allowed her a bit of time to get onto the back foot. Short and wide outside off, Kaur rocks back and cuts it between short third man and backward point!

6:10 AM IST Outside off, punched off the back foot for a single.

6:10 AM IST Down the leg side, flicked straight to square leg.

6:10 AM IST Chamari Atapattu returns. 1-0-6-0 so far.

6:09 AM IST Around off, helped straight to short mid-wicket.

6:08 AM IST Short, around middle, helped through mid-wicket for one more.

6:08 AM IST Full on middle, knocked down to long on for a run.

6:07 AM IST Outside off, watchfully defended.

6:07 AM IST Full on middle, flicked straight to mid-wicket.

6:06 AM IST Short and outside off, pulled down to long on for a single.

6:05 AM IST Around off, well defended. 15 from the over! 49/1 in the Powerplay. Sri Lanka were 35/1 at this stage.

6:05 AM IST Full and outside off, Verma gets across and looks to slog but mistimes it towards long on. Mid-wicket runs across to her left while long on comes running in. The ball lands in between.

6:04 AM IST FOUR! Miscue but will find the boundary! A short ball, outside off, Shafali comes down the track and heaves it over mid on for a boundary again!

6:04 AM IST SIX! Ho ho ho, even better! Full and outside off, Verma reaches out and lofts it miles over long off!

6:03 AM IST FOUR! Terrific batting! Full and outside off, Shafali backs away and lofts it over mid off.

6:03 AM IST Short and outside off, slapped straight to point.

6:03 AM IST Shashikala Siriwardene is back on. 1-0-10-0 so far.

6:02 AM IST Full and outside off, stays low, watchfully pushed towards cover.

6:02 AM IST Landed around off, angling away, guided straight to backward point.

6:01 AM IST Harmanpreet Kaur promotes herself. Good opportunity to get some batting practice.

6:00 AM IST OUT! Stop the press. A catch has been taken by Sri Lanka. Full on middle, Mandhan backs away to the leg side and looks to go over the leg side. But the ball takes the inner half of the bat and goes straight to mid on. Never sure when a ball is in the air, will a Sri Lankan catch it or not. Kavisha Dilhari takes the catch. The quickfire stand is broken.

5:59 AM IST Outside off, punched off the back foot.

5:58 AM IST Comes down the track and has a wild hack. The ball goes off the inner half towards square leg but fumbles and gets a single.

5:58 AM IST Full and around off, pushed towards mid off.

5:58 AM IST Udeshika Prabodhani returns. 1-0-6-0 so far.

5:57 AM IST FOUR! Fine way to end the over! Full and outside off, Mandhana leans and lofts it with finesse over mid off! Spoils a good over.

5:56 AM IST Around middle, whipped down to long on for a run.

5:56 AM IST Full and around off, driven back to the bowler.

5:56 AM IST Slower through the air, outside off, Verma looks to run this down to third man but gets a bottom edge which is stopped on the bounce by the keeper.

5:55 AM IST Around middle, worked straight to short mid-wicket.

5:55 AM IST Short and around middle, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a single.

5:55 AM IST The skipper takes the ball now. Chamari Atapattu to bowl.

5:54 AM IST Full on middle, worked wide of long on for one more. 11 from the over, 21 from the last 2!

5:53 AM IST FOUR! GLORIOUS! Nothing wrong about this one. Full and outside off, Mandhana stretches out this time, gets to the pitch of the ball and lofts it well over mid off. One bounce and into the ropes.

5:53 AM IST FOUR! Just over! Full and outside off, Mandhana leans and lofts it over mid off. The fielder leaps but the ball goes through!

5:52 AM IST DROPPED! Another one goes down. Full on middle, Shafali chips this straight back. Sandeepani gets across to her right, goes for the catch but spills it. The ball is parried to cover and the batters take a single.

5:52 AM IST Outside off, dabbed to short third man.

5:51 AM IST A short ball, outside off, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a single.

5:50 AM IST Sathya Sandeepani to bowl now.

5:50 AM IST FOUR! Fine shot again. Full and outside off, Verma leans and drives it over a leaping mid off fielder, to her left! 10 from the over, could have easily had a wicket.

5:49 AM IST Slow, loopy full toss, outside off, driven straight to cover.

5:48 AM IST FOUR! VIOLENCE! Talk about aggressive cricket and this is an example. Full and outside off, Shafali gets across and sweeps it through mid-wicket for a boundary!

5:48 AM IST WIDE. Landed outside off, Shafali gets a long way across and shoulders arms.

5:48 AM IST DROPPED! That is a sitter of a catch. Full and outside off, Shafali gets across, looks to swing but gets a leading edge. Now, short extra cover gets across to her right, goes for the catch but is nowhere near the ball. That blinds the fielder at cover who gets a simpler one but she puts it down.

5:47 AM IST Comes down the track, looks to swing it over the leg side but the ball pitches and then turns away to take the outside edge. Short third man gets across but cannot prevent a single.

5:46 AM IST Full and outside leg, watchfully defended.

5:46 AM IST Shashikala Siriwardene to bowl from the other end.

5:45 AM IST Another glorious cover drive, this is past the fielder in the ring but there is protection in the deep. A single to end an over which could easily have seen 15 runs coming from it.

5:44 AM IST Full and outside off, driven sweetly but straight to cover.

5:44 AM IST Works this through mid on for a single.

5:43 AM IST Comes down the track and flicks but square leg dives to her left and makes a solid stop.

5:43 AM IST Around off, watchfully defended.

5:42 AM IST FOUR! GORGEOUS! That is some way to get the run chase going. Full and outside off, Shafali leans and drives. Mid off dives to her left but the ball goes through!

5:41 AM IST The players are back out in the middle. The Lankans get into a huddle. Now, they disperse. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana are the Indian openers. Udeshika Prabodhani will start off proceedings. Shafali to face. Here we go!