All-rounder Nilakshika Silva introduced her years of expertise to play throughout a counter-attacking 33-ball 56 as Sri Lanka humbled India by three wickets — their first win in seven years against their fancied rivals — in a girls’s Tri-series match in Colombo n Sunday (May 4, 2025).
The victory, the islanders’ second in the event, helped them inch nearer to the ultimate. This was India’s first loss in the occasion however they’re nonetheless anticipated to make the title conflict due to their convincing wins in their first two matches.
Asked to bat first, India posted a aggressive 275 for 9 driving on swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh’s 48-ball 58.
Sri Lanka accomplished the chase with 5 balls to spare after slipping to 152 for 4 in the thirty third over.
After Nilakshi flattened the India bowlers along with her three sixes and 5 fours, Anushka Sanjeewani (23 not out off 28 balls) and Sugandika Kumari (19 not out off 20 balls) acquired the job achieved for Sri Lanka to push the third crew South Africa on the verge of elimination.
In the chase, Hasini Perera (22 off 27 balls) was run out after a direct throw from Deepti Sharma however Harshitha Samarawickrama added 78 runs for the second wicket with Vishmi Gunaratne (33 off 58 balls) to steer Sri Lanka’s response.
However, Gunaratne’s knock was minimize brief by Arundhati Reddy simply when the previous was trying good for a giant rating, substitute fielder Amanjot Kaur finishing a superb operating catch after the batter acquired a thick exterior edge.
Harshitha, who performed a superb hand of 53 in 61 balls whereas hitting 5 boundaries, was dismissed by part-tie off-spinner Pratika Rawal at an important juncture to depart the sport in the steadiness. Needless to say, Harshitha was gutted by the way of her dismissal, as she struck a flighted supply straight to Arundhati at cowl.
Captain Chamari Athapaththu (23 off 33) was joined by Kavisha Dilhari in the center and the 2 continued the search to chase down the goal of 276 and inch nearer to the ultimate of the event.
However, that was to not be as senior off-spinner Sneh Rana (3/45) had Chamari caught behind with a traditional off-break that spun away from the southpaw and took a faint exterior edge via to the keeper.
But Nilakshi, after which Anushka and Sugandika, remained calm beneath strain to sprint India’s hopes.
Earlier, India had been off to a stable begin earlier than vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was run out for a 28-ball 18 in her a centesimal look in this format.
Opener Pratika, who has excelled with back-to-back fifties in the earlier matches of the collection, was once more trying in good contact. However, the opener was trapped in entrance of the wicket by left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera after the batter had raced to 35 in 39 deliveries.
Harleen Deol chipped in with a 35-ball 29 earlier than falling to part-time bowler Dewmi Vihanga, whereas skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed for a 45-ball 30 by left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari.
Chamari and Sugandika had been Sri Lanka’s finest bowlers with three wickets every.
Published – May 04, 2025 07:05 pm IST
