Veteran Deepti Sharma shone with the bat after her exploits with the ball, coming to the rescue of the Indian women’s team in their four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first ODI here on Friday.
In the company of Pooja Vastrakar (21 not out), Deepti (22 not out) took the team home in 38 overs after setting an easy target of 172 runs in Harmanpreet Kaur’s first match as full-time ODI captain.
cruises on 123 for three, India Harmanpreet’s well-made 44 for six seemed a comfortable run-chase after being dismissed for 138 for six, almost a heavy season.
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But Deepti and Vastrakar ensured that India emerged victorious.
India bundled out Sri Lanka for 171 in 48.2 overs and then chased down the target with 12 overs to spare.
The three-match series is part of the ICC ODI Championship.
Harmanpreet took over the reins in the 50-over format after long-time captain Mithali Raj retired recently.
Sri Lanka’s decision to bat after winning the toss was not the desired result, thanks to a stellar performance by the Indian bowlers in the first match of the series.
Veteran off-spinner Deepti and medium pacer Renuka Singh (3/29) finished with impressive figures of 3/25 and 3/29 respectively.
Renuka gave the team the first breakthrough when she removed Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu with a peach of a ball that landed outside the channel, forcing the batsman to go fishing, and Yastika Bhatia did the rest of the work behind the stumps. did.
It was a huge wicket for India and put the hosts straight on the back foot.
Deepti got her initial breakthrough when she dismissed Hansima Karunaratne for a duck off 11 balls. Trying to break the chain, the batsman went down the track for a delivery, which was tossed, but the lack of height meant the ball did not go past mid-off.
A partnership ensued, but not for long, with Deepti getting the better of opener Hasini Perera by hitting the pads while the batsman attempted to play a sweep shot. Hasini scored 37 runs in 54 balls.
Sri Lanka were in further shock as 63/3 soon turned 65/4, this time with captain Harmanpreet enjoying the breakthrough with the ball by dismissing Kavisha Dilhari for zero.
As wickets fell at one end, Neelakshi de Silva held the fort at the other end until she was trapped in front of the wicket for 43 off 63 balls.
The Indians also had a poor start, losing Smriti Mandhana (4) in the second over itself.
Wicketkeeper Bhatia (1) also did not last long, as India were bowled out for 17 for two in the fourth over.
Captain Harmanpreet then played the role of an anchor, which allowed Shafali Verma to score 35 off 40 balls.
Before the pair of Deepti and Pooja Vastrakar took the visitors home, Harleen Deol hit a 34 0ff 40 off 40 balls.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka women: 171 all out in 48.2 overs (Nilakshi de Silva 43, Hasini Perera 37, Deepti Sharma 3/25, Renuka Singh 3/29)
India Women: 176/6 in 38 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 44, Shafali Verma 35, Harleen Deol 34, Deepti Sharma 22 not out, Pooja Vastrakar 21 not out; Inoka Ranaweera 4/39).
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