India women thrash Sri Lanka by 9 wickets in Tri-Series opener

Sri Lanka women were defeated comprehensively by Indian women by 9 wickets in the opening game of the Women”s ODI Tri-Series played at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo yesterday.

Following a rain delay, India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and sent the Lankans to bat first.

Sri Lankan openers struggled to get going from the outset as skipper Chamari Athapaththu departed for just 7 off 18 deliveries in the eighth over of the game.

Although Hasini Perera tried to consolidate towards a competitive total with the middle order, wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.

Sri Lanka was eventually bundled out for a paltry 147 in 38.1 overs.

Perera was the highest scorer for Sri Lanka with 30 off 46 deliveries while Kavisha Dilhari managed 25 off 26 balls.

For India, Sneh Rana finished with figures of 3/31 while Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani picked up two wickets apiece.

Indian openers Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana were bullish in their approach chasing a comfortable target and went onto post 50 inside the power play overs.  

Mandana was the only batter to be dismissed for 43 while opener Rawal who scored an unbeaten fifty with Harleen Deol reached the target inside 30 overs.

Inoka Ranaweera picked up the only wicket to fall during the Indian innings.

The second game of the series between India and South Africa will be played at the same venue tomorrow.