India Defeat Sri Lanka by 30 Runs to Take 4-0 Lead in Women’s T20Is Series

Chasing a massive 222, Sri Lanka opened fire with Hasini Perera (33 from 20 balls, 7 fours) and skipper Chamari Athapaththu (52 from 37 balls, 3 fours and 3 sixes) providing the early fireworks.

But the target proved too much to overcome for the island team as they lost wickets in the flurry towards the end and finished at 191 for six in their 20 overs.

While left-hander Perera initially set the tone with a flurry of four, Athapaththu once again showcased his rich batting line-up, but the asking run rate on flat pitch continued to rise steeply for the Sri Lankan side.

In a high-scoring game where any mistake in line or length was severely punished by the batsmen of both teams, young Vaishnavi bowled a total of nine dot balls to apply pressure from one end, accounting for the dangerous Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama (20).

Arundhati Reddy (2/42) played a couple of crucial knocks to dismiss Perera in the sixth over after a 59-run opening run and then managed to get rid of Kavisha Dilhari (13).

The fifth and final T20I will be played here on December 30.

Earlier, Mandhana and Shafali broke records and guided India to 221, the highest Women’s T20I total for two.

Batting second in each of the three matches so far in this five-match rubber, Mandhana and Shafali put on a batting masterclass to defeat the Sri Lankan bowlers at the Greenfield International Stadium after being asked to bat first.

Towards the end, Richa Ghosh scored 40 off 16 balls while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur also scored 16 off 9 balls to help India post a massive total.

Indian openers Mandhana and Shafali shared a massive 162-run stand in 15.2 overs; this is currently the best partnership for any wicket for the country in women’s T20Is.

This was also the fourth occasion on which Mandhana and Shafali formed an alliance of 100 or more, with the duo improving their own record of 143 against the West Indies at Gros Islet in 2019.

Mandhana also entered the history books, becoming the fourth batsman after compatriot Mithali Raj, New Zealander Suzie Bates and England’s Charlotte Edwards to complete 10,000 international runs across formats.

Shafali, on the other hand, continued to post his third consecutive half-century in this series with his hot form, but missed his first ton in the format, which was something to be taken for granted.

She made a comeback to Nimasha Meepage in the 16th over after amassing 79 off 46 balls with 12 fours and a six.

Both Mandhana and Shafali penetrated the gaps with precision without overdoing it and played magnificent shots on both sides of the wicket.

In particular, Shafali’s strike to bowler Kawya Kavindi’s head in the last ball of the fourth over stood out as he took a few steps towards the wicket in full flow. Earlier, Mandhana had collected two fours from the bowler.

Mandhana, who has had a quiet series so far considering his high standards, was on his own as his drives were lively and so was the innings in the side where each of his three sixes were hit.

While both Mandhana and Shafali fell in quick succession, the hard-hitting Richa hit four fours and three sixes for 40 as India added 53 runs for the third wicket without interruption with Harmanpreet as India crossed the 200-run mark.