There was talk of the openers not getting enough runs at the top of the order. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma had to address that on Monday. They did it and how!

The India women’s openers remained unbeaten to gift their team a 10-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second ODI, and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Chasing a 174-run target, Smriti and Shafali bulldozed the Lankan attack to romp home in just 25.4 overs. In the process, they created the record for the highest target successfully chased without losing a wicket in women’s ODIs.

Smriti played a stroke-filled innings of 94 not out off 83 balls, while young Shafali made run-a-ball 71 not out. Together, they hit 13 boundaries and two sixes.

Earlier, the bowlers had done their job perfectly after skipper Harmanpreet Kaur asked the hosts to bat first. Medium pacer Renuka Singh returned career-best figures of 4/28 as Lanka were all out for 173.

Harmanpreet was relieved that the openers got runs. “We have been talking about long partnerships and thankfully we got it today (Monday). I am happy with the way we batted, it was outstanding to watch,” she said during the post-match presentation.

Adjudged Player of the Match, Renuka said: “I’ve been working on my strength, practising my hard lengths and variations.”