India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, commended Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma for their outstanding 162-run partnership, leading the team to a 30-run victory over Sri Lanka in the fourth women’s T20I at the Greenfield International Stadium. Smriti, awarded Player of the Match, scored 80, while Shafali contributed 79 runs, propelling India to their highest-ever T20 score of 221/2. Richa Ghosh (40 not out) and Harmanpreet’s strong finish solidified the win.
Harmanpreet expressed her satisfaction with the team’s performance, crediting Smriti, Shafali, Richa, and herself for their respective roles in the match. Smriti, surpassing 10,000 international runs during her innings, acknowledged the challenge of transitioning back to T20 cricket after playing numerous ODIs. She highlighted the team’s camaraderie and praised Shafali’s batting prowess and growth.
Sri Lanka, despite a valiant effort, fell short in their chase, scoring 191/6 in 20 overs, their highest total in women’s T20Is. Captain Chamari Athapaththu acknowledged her team’s batting improvement but lamented the inexperience in their bowling attack. She particularly praised left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma for her impressive bowling performance and strategic planning, emphasizing the learning experience for the young bowlers.
