Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana shone for the Indian women’s team as they dominated from start to finish to beat Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the second ODI and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game run in Pallekele on Monday. It is worth noting that Indian team openers Smriti and Shafali shot first on the tour, sharing a partnership of 174 runs to see the visitors at home in just 25.4 overs. It is the highest goal successfully chased without losing a wicket in women’s ODIs.
The bowlers set it up for the tourists by sacking Sri Lanka for 173, then Smriti Mandhana’s stroke-filled 94 from 83 and Shafali Verma’s run-a-ball 71 paved the way for the convincing win.
The experienced Mandhana hit 11 boundaries and a six in her blazing knock, while Verma found the fence four times and cleared it once. The latter, known for its power-hitting, produced some sparkling shots. She completed her fourth ODI half-century in 57 balls. En route to the 50 run, Verma played a brilliant round against Sri Lankan medium pacer Achini Kulasuriya. The shot is reminiscent of Jos Buttler playing the unorthodox trick.
Watch: Shafali Verma’s powerful at bat
Shafali Verma completes her fourth ODI half-century in 57 balls. India needs 51 runs to win. #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/DxFrCAGRbs
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After comfortably winning the first ODI, the Indians came up against a wobbly Sri Lankan team in the second game as firm favorites. The confidence of the visitors was boosted by the fact that they were also victorious in the previous three-match T20I series.
After winning the toss, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur asked Sri Lanka to bat first on a surface in favorable conditions for the bowlers.
The hosts soon found themselves in all sorts of trouble as pacesetter Renuka Singh was on track with her heights from the start.
The 26-year-old reigned supreme with the ball, with a career-best 4 for 28, rattling the Sri Lankan top order with three quick strikes. Even when wickets fell at regular intervals, lower order Ama Kanchana held the fort for the hosts with an unbeaten 47 from 83 balls. Seasoned off-spinner Deepti Sharma’s two wickets from the last two balls helped India outplay the Lankans.
“We talked about long-term partnerships. We discussed that we have to give 100 percent. The partnership was excellent. It’s important to have bowling options,” Harmanpreet said after the game.
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India won the first ODI by four wickets and will try to complete a 3-0 sweep when they meet the home side in the final game on Thursday.
With PTI inputs
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