Smriti Mandhana's impressive innings of 116 runs off 101 balls helped India secure a massive total of 342/7, setting a challenging target for Sri Lanka in the tri-series final.
India won the toss and chose to bat first on a fresh surface in Colombo, which appeared to favor batting. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Prathika Rawal were ready to face Malki Madara, who was set to bowl with the new ball.
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Mandhana and Rawal Steady India with Crucial 70-Run Partnership
The in-form duo of Mandhana and Rawal started cautiously, navigating the early swing during the powerplay. Once they settled in, they targeted the last three overs of the powerplay, finishing with 45 runs and no wickets lost after 10 overs.
Following the powerplay, Mandhana and Rawal formed a solid partnership, bringing up their fifty-run stand for the first wicket. However, Sri Lanka made their first breakthrough in the 15th over when Inoka Ranaweera dismissed Prathika Rawal, leaving India at 70/1. Harleen Deol came in next and joined Mandhana at the crease, where they built another fruitful partnership. Smriti Mandhana reached her 32nd ODI fifty with a boundary in the 20th over.
Smriti Mandhana Secures Her 11th ODI Century
As boundaries became harder to find and Sri Lanka attempted to stage a comeback, Mandhana relished the challenge. After a 30-ball drought without a boundary, her four relieved the pressure, allowing the pair to accelerate. They added a 100-run partnership for the second wicket, with Mandhana achieving her milestone 11th ODI century, marked by a flurry of three consecutive fours.
Once reaching her century, she shifted gears quickly, contributing another 16 runs in the next two overs before Dewmi Vihanga dismissed her for a well-crafted 116, which included 15 fours and 2 sixes. Mandhana received a huge ovation from the crowd and her teammates as she exited the field, leaving India at 190/2 at the end of the 32nd over.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur then entered the fray, showcasing her aggressive style and taking on the Sri Lankan bowlers with a flurry of boundaries. Harleen Deol also added some runs before being dismissed by Vihanga for a solid 47 off 56 balls, leaving India at 219/3.
Jemimah Rodrigues came in next, determined to attack the bowling and help finish the innings strongly. She and Harmanpreet formed a quick partnership worth 48 runs off 32 deliveries, but Sri Lanka struck again, reducing India to 267/4 with nine overs remaining.
India finish big with 342/7 in 50 overs
In the final overs, India's lower middle order rose to the occasion, with contributions from Jemimah Rodrigues (44 off 29 balls), Amanjot Kaur (18 off 12 balls), and Deepti Sharma (20 off 14 balls). Their efforts propelled India to an impressive total of 342/7 in 50 overs. Stay tuned as the Sri Lankan batters gear up for their chase.
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