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Clinical India Crush Sri Lanka in Rain-Hit Tri-Series Opener | Women’s Tri-Series 2025
India Women kicked off their tri-series campaign with a commanding nine-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Colombo. Despite rain delaying the start by more than two hours, India stayed focused and delivered a clinical performance. The match was reduced to 39 overs per side, but India made sure rain did not spoil their plans.
Spinners Lead the Way for India
India’s bowlers, especially the spinners, were on top right from the beginning. Sneh Rana, with her brilliant spell of 3 for 31 in 8 overs, was the star of the show. Besides Rana, young Nallapureddy Charani and the experienced Deepti Sharma picked two wickets each. Their efforts combined to break Sri Lanka’s batting spine.
Sri Lanka never looked settled at the crease. Early on, Chamari Athapaththu was dismissed cheaply, which hurt them badly. Even though Hasini Perera showed some fight by finding the boundary a few times, India’s bowlers never allowed her to dominate.
After a quiet start, Rana’s introduction changed the game. She trapped Hasini Perera leg-before and later picked two more quick wickets through sharp return catches. Meanwhile, Charani tightened the screws with her economical bowling and also claimed two crucial wickets. As a result, Sri Lanka were bundled out for just 147 in 38.1 overs.
Smooth Sailing in the Run Chase
Chasing a modest target, India’s openers Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana gave a perfect start. Rawal smashed a boundary off the very first ball, setting the tone. Soon after, Mandhana joined the party, timing her shots beautifully through the covers.
Even though Mandhana fell for 43, India’s momentum never dropped. Harleen Deol partnered Rawal to stitch a strong, unbeaten 95-run stand. Both players rotated the strike smartly and punished any bad deliveries, ensuring there was no pressure at any stage.
Rawal brought up her fourth consecutive ODI fifty, showing her excellent touch. Deol also looked fluent, ending just two short of her own half-century.
India chased down the target comfortably in 29.4 overs, winning the match with nine wickets in hand. It was a perfect start to the tri-series campaign for the Indian team.
Match Highlights:
Sri Lanka: 147 all out in 38.1 overs
(Hasini Perera 30, Kavisha Dilhari 25; Sneh Rana 3-31, Deepti Sharma 2-22)
India: 149/1 in 29.4 overs
(Pratika Rawal 50*, Harleen Deol 48*; Inoka Ranaweera 1-32)
Result: India Women won by 9 wickets.
