An all-round India beat Sri Lanka by 82 runs in the Women's T20 World Cup at the Dubai Internatinal Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. Team India needed a big win to keep their semifinal hopes alive after suffering a shock defeat at the hands of New Zealand in their campaign opener.
Opting to bat first, captain Harmanpreet Kaur led from the front scoring an unbeaten 52 from 27 balls. Smriti Mandhana (50 off 38) and Shafali Verma (43 off 40) also contributed as India made easy work of the Sri Lankan bowling to post the highest total of the competition thus far -- 172/3.
The 98-run stand between Shafali and Smriti set the tone before the skipper took over the charge of the attack.
In return, the islanders stood no chance against the determined neighbours and were foiled for just 90 runs in the penultimate ball of the game. Arundhathi Reddy and Asha Sobhana shined for India with an identical spell of 4-0-19-3 (4.75 Eco). Renuka Singh claimed two wickets (4-0-16-2) while Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil picked up a wicket each.
It was India's biggest margin of victory in the tournament history, pushing their run rate to positive from negative.
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The result took India to second position in Group A behind Australia with four pints after three games. Pakistan stand third with two and have a game in hand. New Zealand is fourth behind Pakistan on NRR, after being defeated by group leaders Australia in their second game.
If India win both their remaining matches, they will have six points. However, if New Zealand, too, win their remaining matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and Australia defeat Pakistan, all three teams—India, Australia and New Zealand—will have six points. The NRR will then decide who goes through to the knockout stage. If Australia win all their remaining matches, NRR will decide whether India, Pakistan or New Zealand will join them as the second team from Group A to enter the semifinals.