Deepti Sharma delivered with both the bat and ball as India got their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 campaign off to a winning start against Sri Lanka in front of a record attendance at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati.
In a contest shortened to 47 overs a side owing to early showers, India all-rounder notched a vital half-century (53 runs off 53 deliveries) and finished with bowling figures of 3/54 to inspire a 59-run win (DLS method).
Defending the target of 270, India’s bowling attack put Sri Lanka under constant pressure, with every bowler chipping in with a wicket.
Sri Lanka had looked steady in their pursuit of 270 after the early loss of Hasini Perera, with Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama adding a fifty-run stand for the second wicket.
But once that partnership was broken by Deepti Sharma cleaning up the Sri Lanka skipper, Indian bowlers snapped wickets at regular intervals to seal the game.
Sneh Rana and Sree Charani managed a couple of wickets each to their name, while Kranti Gaud, Amanjot Kaur, and Pratika Rawal also got their name in the wickets tally.
Earlier, Amanjot Kaur had combined alongside Deepti Sharma to help India pull their way back into the contest with the bat.
Having been put in to bat first in, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side was pinned down to 124/6 at one stage, thanks to Sri Lanka’s prolific effort with the ball.
The Chamari Athapaththu-led side would put pressure from the get-go on India in Guwahati. Udeshika Prabodani got Sri Lanka off to a fine start by nabbing the important wicket of Smriti Mandhana in the powerplay.
The in-form India opener had tried to clear the off side early on in the powerplay, but ended up slicing the delivery to deep cover where Vishmi Gunarathne held on after a juggle.
Her opening partner, Pratika Rawal’s steady knock of 37 from 59 balls came to an end as she stepped out to Inoka Ranaweera but got picked out deep midwicket. Vishmi Gunaratne held on to the catch at the second attempt, breaking India’s 50-run partnership.
Inoka Ranaweera then turned the game in Sri Lanka’s favour by removing Harleen Doel, Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur in quick succession to leave India reeling at 121/5.
The Sri Lankan tweaker became the second oldest player to take a four-wicket haul in Women’s ODIs, and the oldest to do so at the Women’s Cricket World Cup.
However, India would mount a comeback with Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur combining to add 103 runs for the seventh-wicket partnership.
The stand was followed by Sneh Rana also constructing a vital cameo – 28 off 15 deliveries – producing two fours and as many maximums to help India to 269/8 – a total that proved to be enough for India to defend successfully.
Sri Lanka face Australia in their next fixture on October 4 in Colombo, meanwhile India will square up against arch-rivals Pakistan the next day at the same venue.
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