With their backs to the wall, Harmanpreet Kaur & Co had only one choice – to turn around and fight. Fight they did and how! On the brink of an early exit from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, India sizzled in the Dubai heat on Wednesday. They registered a resounding 82-run victory – the highest margin of victory by India in a T20 World Cup tie – over Sri Lanka to pull themselves back into contention. It wasn’t just the margin of victory, but the team’s show of strength and character that stood out. India ticked all the boxes to jump to the second place in Group A with six points and a run rate of 0.576.
After a five-match lull, Harmanpreet fired up her cold bat when it was most needed. Harmanpreet’s unbeaten 27-ball 52 (8x4; 1x6), along with a fine 98-run opening stand between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana, ensured India posted a competitive 172/3, the highest team total in the tournament so far.
In reply, Sri Lanka crumbled like a pack of cards as Arundhati Reddy (3/19) and Asha Sobhana (3/19) led the attack to bowl Lanka out for 90 in 19.5 overs.
The form of the troika came as a welcome sign for India, who have struggled to come together as a team in the tournament thus far. Indian batter’s strike rate has been worrying and Harmanpreet, who scored at a strike rate which was a shade over 192, eased some nerves.
To stay in contention for a last-four berth, a high score was a necessity for India and hence it was hardly surprising that they chose to bat first.
Shafali and Smriti, who have struggled against spin, were welcomed by spin duo Inoshi Priyadharshani and Sugandika Kumari. They tested the waters for a couple of overs, before the 20-year-old Shafali found the first boundary, dispatching a Udeshika Prabodhani delivery through extra cover.
Shafali continued to do the heavy lifting with occasional boundaries, while Smriti struggled to find gaps. At the end of powerplay, India was 41 for no loss. The duo built on the momentum, with Smriti hammering Inoka for a maximum - India’s first maximum in three matches - in the first over after the powerplay. At the halfway stage, India was cruising at 78 for no loss.
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