All-round brilliance from Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, and Amanjot Kaur powered India to a 59-run (DLS) victory over co-hosts Sri Lanka in the opening match of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup at Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Deepti made history by becoming the first Indian bowler to score a fifty and take a three-wicket haul in a World Cup game. Alongside Amanjot, she orchestrated a crucial partnership that revived India’s innings after an early collapse.
India were in trouble at 124/6 when Amanjot Kaur (57) and Deepti Sharma (53) stitched together a 103-run stand, steadying the innings. Later, Sneh Rana’s quickfire 28* off 15 balls propelled India to 269/8 in a rain-shortened 47-over match.
The Indian bowlers then executed their plans perfectly. Deepti led the attack with 3-54, Sneh Rana impressed with 2-32 from her 10 overs, and young spinner N Shree Charani added 2-37. Amanjot, deployed as the second seamer alongside Kranti Gaud, contributed 1-37 as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 211 in 45.4 overs.
Sri Lanka’s chase mirrored India’s early struggle. They reached 45/1 in nine overs and later 140/6, but failed to muster a lower-order fightback. Captain Chamari Athapaththu (43) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (29) shared a 52-run second-wicket stand, while Nilakshika Silva’s quick 35 off 29 balls was the only late resistance. India’s spinners, combined with Sri Lanka’s fielding lapses, sealed the contest.
Earlier, India started cautiously after being put in to bat. Smriti Mandhana fell for eight, but Pratika Rawal (37) and Harleen Deol (48) steadied the innings, taking India to 43/1 in 10 overs. Rain interrupted play for over an hour, reducing the match to 47 overs per side.
On resumption, Sri Lanka’s Inoka Ranaweera turned the game momentarily, taking three wickets in five balls in the 26th over, including Deol (48), Jemimah Rodrigues (0), and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (17). She ended with 4-46, leaving India precariously placed at 124/6.
It was then that Amanjot and Deepti rebuilt with patience and grit. Despite being dropped twice, Amanjot showed remarkable composure on her World Cup debut before falling to a brilliant boundary catch by Vishmi Gunaratne. Deepti’s steady fifty and Sneh Rana’s late assault ensured India posted a defendable total.
Sri Lanka’s fielding errors compounded their woes, as they dropped nearly half a dozen catches. Their batters struggled to score in the middle overs, failing to find the boundary for over 50 deliveries, which ultimately cost them the match.
Brief Scores:
- India: 269/8 in 47 overs (Amanjot Kaur 57, Deepti Sharma 53, Harleen Deol 48, Sneh Rana 28*; Inoka Ranaweera 4-46, Udeshika Prabhodhani 2-55)
- Sri Lanka: 211 all out in 45.4 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 43, Nilakshika Silva 35; Deepti Sharma 3-54, Sneh Rana 2-32, N Shree Charani 2-37)
- Result: India won by 59 runs (DLS method)
