13th ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Kaur, Sharma guide India Women to winning start

Amanjot Kaur (R) and Deepti Sharma put on a crucial 103-run stand

By M. Shamil Amit

Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma were the heroines for India Women in their comfortable 59-run win (DLS method) in the opening match of the 13th ICC Women’s World Cup, played under floodlights at Guwahati yesterday.

Sri Lanka Women, in pursuit of 271 runs for victory, were only able to muster 211, which saw India begin their campaign on a winning note.

The run chase was always going to be an uphill task for Sri Lanka. Openers, skipper Chamari Athapaththu and Hasini Perera, gave the side a steady start of 30 runs. Athapaththu then shared a 52-run stand for the second wicket with Harshitha Samarawickrama, before falling for 43 off 47 balls (four boundaries, three sixes). Her dismissal triggered a collapse, as the middle order failed to make an impression. Nilakshika Silva was the lone exception, scoring 35 off 29 balls with four boundaries and a six, but with no significant partnerships, Sri Lanka fell well behind the required rate.

India’s spinners did the bulk of the damage right-arm off-spinners Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana, along with left-arm spinner Shree Charani, combined to share seven wickets and dismantle the Sri Lankan batting, restricting them to 211. Earlier, India invited to bat first in a match reduced to 47 overs were in early trouble despite a valuable 67-run stand for the second wicket between opener Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol. Once that pair was separated, India faltered against left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera, losing wickets at regular intervals and slipping to 120 for 5 at the halfway stage. Within seven balls, they lost their sixth wicket and were reeling at 124 for 6 in the 27th over. However, Sri Lanka failed to capitalise. Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma took advantage of sloppy fielding and counterattacked. They reached their 50-run stand in just 45 balls, before taking India past 200. Kaur brought up her half-century off 45 balls (five boundaries, one six), and the pair went on to add 103 runs in 99 balls for the seventh wicket. Kaur eventually fell for 57 off 56 balls (five boundaries, one six), dismissed by left-arm pacer Udeshika Prabodhani after surviving four dropped chances. But by then, India were well placed at 227 for 7.

Sharma found another reliable partner in Sneh Rana, and the pair continued to frustrate the Sri Lankan attack. Sharma reached her fifty off 50 balls, before finally falling to Prabodhani for a run-a-ball 53. Before her dismissal, she added a brisk 42 off just 15 balls with Rana for the eighth wicket, helping India finish on a formidable 269 for 8. Rana chipped in with a quick-fire 28 off 15 balls.

For Sri Lanka, Inoka Ranaweera was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, though her effort went in vain. At the toss, skipper Chamari Athapaththu had opted to field, stating: “We are playing on our own soil and I know many Sri Lankans will be there to support us. We need that energy and encouragement, just like during the Asia Cup, and we look forward to the same today.”