India vs Sri Lanka Highlights, Women's T20 World Cup 2024: Harmanpreet, Mandhana guide IND to thumping 82-run win

India complete big win over Sri Lanka.

India vs Sri Lanka Highlights Women's T20 World Cup 2024: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and opener Smriti Mandhana paved the way for India's massive win over Sri Lanka with fine half-centuries in the group stage match. The Women in Blue piled up a tournament high of 172-3 from their 20 overs before Sri Lanka were dismissed for 90 off the penultimate ball of the match. In the bowling department, Indian fast bowler Arundhati Reddy and leg-spinner Asha Sobhana returned identical figures of 3-19 in their four overs.

India now have two wins in three games ahead of their final group match with six-time champions Australia on Sunday.

Sri Lanka suffered a 31-run loss to Pakistan before Australia chased down their target in a little more than 14 overs, showing that they are there for the taking if India can show the quality they possess. However, they do possess dangerous players such as captain Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama, and all-rounder Kavisha Dilhari who will be looking to leave their impact on this tournament by causing a massive upset.

However, there will be concerns regarding the batting form of some players in the Indian team, with Smriti Mandhana and RIcha Ghosh having failed twice, Shafali Verma not looking at quite her destructive best, and Harmanpreet Kaur departing the field with an injury in the match against Pakistan. However, the improved bowling showed by the likes of Arundhati Reddy and Shreyanka Patil will be a positive sign for India. Reddy took 3 wickets against Pakistan, while Patil combined with a couple of her own, as all five bowlers India used contributed with a wicket.

On the batting front, Jemimah Rodrigues was promoted to number three and played a watchful partnership alongside Shafali Verma as the pair ensured a loss wasn’t on the cards for an India team in need of a win. However, winning with only 7 balls left while chasing 106 was seen as a missed opportunity to catch up with the massive NRR deficit a 58-run loss to New Zealand forced on them.

A win might not be enough for Harmanpreet Kaur’s team, as they might need it to be by a big margin as well in order to claw back the advantage the teams above them hold. They will also keep an eye on the result of Australia vs New Zealand in consideration, but whichever way that match goes, the scenario for India is fairly simple: a loss is as good as elimination.

Up against a team playing for pride who have already scalped a high-profile victory over them this year, India will be aware of the threat the Lankans can pose in the shortest format, especially in conditions where Indian batters have shown themselves to be vulnerable to the tight lengths. Run-scoring has been at a premium in Dubai with many teams struggling to score at quick rates, but India might well need to go all-guns-blazing on Wednesday.

Highlights from India vs Sri Lanka Women's T20 World Cup 2024:

• Harmanpreet Kaur wins toss, chooses to bat first in Dubai. Team remains unchanged, while Lankans make one change.
• India 41/0 from 6 overs after a slow start to the powerplay/ Shafali finding the boundary, Smriti Mandhana struggling slightly early in the match.
• 50 partnership for the openers comes up after the end of 7 overs. India stepping up the scoring after the openers get their eye in.
• India 78/0 after the end of 10 overs.
• 50 up for Smriti in the 13th over, but dismissed the very next ball. Shafali falls the delivery after that, Sri Lanka with a double breakthrough.
• Jemimah dropped in the deep. 126/2 in 16 overs as Harmanpreet Kaur connects sweetly to register a six.
• 59 runs off last 5 overs as skipper Harmanpreet brings up a 50 off the last ball of the innings.
• Tournament high score by any team, as India set 172/3.
• Two wickets in the first two overs as Radha Yadav makes a miraculous catch off Renuka Thakur, before Shreyanka Patil scalps Chamari Athapaththu.
• Asia Cup hero Harshitha Samarawickrama goes next, caught behind off Renuka Singh Thakur. India well ahead!
• Sanjeewani and Dilhari stitch together the beginnings of a partnership, but Asha Sobhana does the trick with a wicket to get a new batter to the crease.
• Two wickets in one over! Arundhati Reddy finds the top edge of both de Silva and Dilhari, and both are back in the hut. 58/6 after 12 overs.
• Sri Lanka last until last over, but are ultimately bowled out. An 82-run victory for India

A resounding and tournament-changing victory for India in Dubai, as their requirement to beat Sri Lanka and beat them by a big margin was achieved. In the first innings, India set the highest first innings total in the tournament so far, reaching 172 thanks to 50s from Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. In reponse, three wickets in the first three overs broke the back of Sri Lanka's innings before they really got going. A win was inevitable, but a massive 82-run wins sees India's net run-rate soar above both New Zealand and Pakistan's.