Deepti Sharma’s all-round skills helped India women overcome Sri Lanka by four wickets in the first ODI on Friday.
Chasing a 172-run target, India looked to be cruising home at 123/3. But in almost no time, they were 138/6. It was then that Deepti (22 not out), with Pooja Vastrakar (21 not out) for company, performed the rescue act. India reached home in 38 overs.
Harmanpreet Kaur, for whom it was the first match as the women’s team’s full-time ODI captain, played a meaningful knock of 44. Harmanpreet took over the reins in the 50-over format after the recent retirement of long-time skipper Mithali Raj.
India had earlier bowled out Sri Lanka for 171 in 48.2 overs.
Sri Lanka’s decision to bat first after winning the toss did not yield them the desired result. Experienced off-spinner Deepti and medium pacer Renuka Singh (3/29) were the wreckers-in-chief, finishing with impressive figures of 3/25 and 3/29, respectively.
Renuka pushed the hosts on the backfoot early when she had Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu caught behind in the third over.
The Indians also got off to a poor start, losing Smriti Mandhana (4) as early as the second over. Wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia (1), too, did not last long, leaving India at 17 for two in the fourth over.
Skipper Harmanpreet then played the role of an anchor, allowing Shafali Verma to blaze her way to 35 off 40 balls.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka women 171 in 48.2 overs (Nilakshi de Silva 43, Hasini Perera 37; Deepti Sharma 3/25, Renuka Singh 3/29) India women 176/6 in 38 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 44, Shafali Verma 35, Harleen Deol 34, Deepti Sharma 22 not out. India won by 4 wickets.
