Guwahati, Sep 30 (IANS) – A spirited all-round performance by Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, and debutant Amanjot Kaur powered India to a 59-run win (DLS method) over co-hosts Sri Lanka in the opening match of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Deepti created history by becoming the first Indian to score a fifty and take three wickets in a World Cup match. She struck a crucial 53 before returning figures of 3-54. Amanjot, on her World Cup debut, played a fighting knock of 57, while Sneh Rana smashed a quick-fire unbeaten 28 off 15 balls and later picked up 2-32 with the ball.
Put in to bat, India found themselves reeling at 124/6 after a collapse triggered by Inoka Ranaweera (4-46), who claimed three wickets in five balls. Harleen Deol (48) and Pratika Rawal (37) had earlier steadied the innings after Smriti Mandhana’s early dismissal, but wickets tumbled in quick succession.
It was then Amanjot and Deepti who turned the tide, stitching together a vital 103-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Sneh Rana’s late cameo pushed India to a competitive 269/8 in a rain-shortened 47-over contest.
In reply, Sri Lanka mirrored India’s start, reaching 140/6 before running out of resistance. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu (43) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (29) put on 52 for the second wicket, while Nilakshika Silva made a brisk 35. But the Indian spinners applied relentless pressure, with young Shree Charani (2-37) and Amanjot (1-37) supporting Deepti and Sneh as Sri Lanka folded for 211 in 45.4 overs.
The win gave India a strong start to their World Cup campaign, overcoming early stumbles to outclass Sri Lanka with both bat and ball.
Brief Scores:
India 269/8 in 47 overs (Amanjot Kaur 57, Deepti Sharma 53, Harleen Deol 48, Sneh Rana 28*; Inoka Ranaweera 4-46)
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)
India won by 59 runs (DLS method).
