IND-W Vs SL-W Match Highlights:
India defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium on Friday.
The skipper Harmanpreet Kaur remained the top scorer with 44 as India recorded a victory in the series opener in Sri Lanka.
After winning the toss, hosts decided to bat first. However their decision turned out to be dreary as they lost their skipper Athapaththu when they were at 13.
Nilakshi de Silva – the saviour for Sri Lanka
Nilakshi de Silva scored the maximum run for Sri Lanka as apart from her no other batter showed any signs of fighting spirit. De Silva played a knock of 43 in just 63 to help her side reach a somehow respectable total of 171.
For India, Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma both took 3 wickets Smriti Mandhana and Yastika Bhatia fell early in India’s chase, but Harmanpreet and Shafali Verma steadied the visitors.
In reply, India too witnessed a tough start as the visitors lost 2 batters for just 17. While Shefali Verma and the skipper Harmanpreet Kaur somehow steadied the ship before Verma walked back to pavilion for 35. Harmanpreet, on the other hand, continues to play a reliable knock from the other end. Kaur scored highest run from innings 44 before finally she got out on 44.
Before the dismissal, Harmanpreet and Harleen Deol added 62 for the fifth wicket. Deol and Richa Ghosh then walked back in quick succession. But Deepti Sharma’s unbeaten 22* and Pooja Vastrakar’s 21* guide India to victory.
Deepti Sharma has been awarded with the player of the match award for her all-round performance. Sharma played a knock of 22* with the bat. While she took 3 wickets with the ball to provide India edge over the hosts.
The second ODI of the series will be played on July 4 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.
Earlier, team India also won the T20I series as part of the tour by 2-1.
Player of the Match: Deepti Sharma
