Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma led India to a record total of 221/2 in the fourth women’s T20I against Sri Lanka. Their partnership of 162 runs set a new milestone for India in T20Is, with Shafali scoring 79 off 46 balls and Smriti adding 80 off 48 deliveries.
Despite losing both openers, Richa Ghosh’s quick 40 off 16 balls and Harmanpreet Kaur’s 16 not out propelled India to a strong finish. Sri Lanka, chasing 222, put up a spirited fight but fell short, ending at 191/6, their highest total in women’s T20Is.
India’s bowlers faced challenges with a wet ball, but Vaishnavi Sharma’s 2-24 and Arundhati Reddy’s 2-42 helped contain Sri Lanka. Despite fielding lapses, India’s strong batting performance secured a 30-run victory, extending their unbeaten run in the series.
India’s dominant start saw them reach 61/0 in the powerplay, with Smriti and Shafali showcasing aggressive batting. Smriti also achieved a significant milestone, becoming the fourth woman to reach 10,000 international runs. The partnership’s acceleration in the middle overs propelled India to their highest T20I score.
In response, Sri Lanka started aggressively but lost momentum after an early breakthrough. Captain Chamari Athapaththu’s fifty and Imesha Dulani’s support kept Sri Lanka in the game. However, India’s disciplined bowling and crucial wickets ensured a comfortable victory in the end.
