Bowlers delivered after Jemimah Rodrigues’ vital knock (36 not out) on return to secure as India Women secured a 34-run victory in the first T20I over Sri Lanka Women at the Dambulla International Stadium on Thursday.

The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side could reach only 138 for 6 after opting to bat with Rodrigues ensuring the total got closer to 130. Thereafter, left-arm spinner Radha Yadav (2/22) made her presence felt right after the Powerplay by dismissing Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu and Harsihtha Madavi (10) in three balls.

Reduced to 27 for 3 inside seven overs, Sri Lanka never managed to get going in the run chase, which was further derailed by some tight bowling by seamer Pooja Vastrakar (1/13) in the middle overs. Deepti Sharma, too, played an important part with her off-spin.

She dismissed Vishmi Gunaratne in the second over and was at her miserly best in the Powerplay, returning with figures of 1/9 in her three overs to stymie the home team’s progress early on.

Deepti also took a stunning catch running in from deep square leg to give Radha her second wicket of the game. Kavisha Dilhari waged a lone battle for Sri Lanka with a fighting 47, but the Indians’ top-class bowling and fielding ensured their team emerged easy winners for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The hosts needed 78 runs in the last five overs and Kavisha got going with a flurry of boundaries against Harmanpreet and Radha. But it proved insufficient, as India remained disciplined in terms of their bowling right through.

Brief scores: India Women 138/6 in 20 ovs (J. Rodrigues 36 n.o.). Sri Lanka Women 104/5 in 20 ovs (K. Dilhari 47; R. Yadav 2/22, P. Vastrakar 1/13). India Women won by 34 runs.