India crush Sri Lanka to keep Women’s T20 WC semis hopes alive, leapfrog New Zealand in NRR

India Women delivered a commanding performance against Sri Lanka in the Women’s T20 World Cup, securing an 82-run victory to keep their semi-final hopes alive. The win not only boosted India’s position in Group A, but also propelled them ahead of New Zealand in Net Run Rate (NRR), bringing them one step closer to the knockout stage.

Wednesday’s win vs Sri Lanka in Dubai is also the highest margin of victory ever for India in Women’s T20 World Cups.

Dominant Show with bat

Opting to bat first, India posted an impressive 172/3, the highest team total of this year’s tournament. The opening duo of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana laid a solid foundation, despite a cautious start. Shafali found her rhythm quickly, while Mandhana took time to settle before breaking free in the final over of the powerplay. Her powerful boundary over the bowler’s head and India’s first six of the tournament set the tone for the innings.

Mandhana went on to score her 27th T20I fifty, as India neared a 100-run opening partnership. Though both openers fell in quick succession, captain Harmanpreet Kaur played a blistering knock. Her 27-ball half-century, filled with aggressive shots, took India to a formidable total, with Jemimah Rodrigues chipping in with a quickfire 16 off just 10 balls.

Sri Lanka Falter in Chase

Chasing 173, Sri Lanka struggled from the start. India’s bowlers struck at regular intervals, never allowing the opposition to gain momentum. Sri Lanka’s batting line-up crumbled, managing only 90 runs before being bowled out in 19.5 overs. This emphatic win was a huge boost for India, who needed a big victory to improve their NRR.

India’s bowling attack was instrumental in their commanding victory over Sri Lanka, securing the highest margin of victory in the history of Women’s T20 World Cups. Shreyanka’s early dismissal of Chamari Athapaththu and Radha Yadav’s stunning catch to remove Vishmi set the tone for a dominant performance. The Sri Lankan batting lineup struggled to recover from the early wickets, and India’s bowlers continued to apply pressure throughout the innings. Arundhati Reddy and Asha Sobhana each claimed three wickets, showcasing the depth and effectiveness of India’s bowling unit.

Crucial Win for India’s Semifinal Hopes

This was India’s second win in Group A, moving them to the second spot on the points table, above New Zealand. The result keeps India firmly in contention for the semi-finals, with a crucial match against defending champions Australia up next. A win against Australia could all but seal India’s spot in the semi-finals.

Before this victory, India’s chances looked uncertain due to their initial loss to New Zealand and an insufficiently large win over Pakistan. The big win against Sri Lanka, however, has significantly improved their position, both in points and in NRR.

Semi-Final Scenarios Ahead

India’s final group stage match against Australia will determine their fate in the tournament. A victory could secure a semi-final spot, but India’s qualification is not entirely in their hands. Even if they win vs Australia, other results, particularly from New Zealand and Pakistan, will influence India’s progress.

With their hopes still alive, India will now focus on maintaining their momentum and sealing a place in the semi-finals with a win against Australia. However, they will also keep an eye on other results in Group A to confirm their path to the knockout stage.