Jemimah Rodrigues produced a composed yet dominant batting display as India Women cruised to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka Women in the first T20I, chasing down a modest target of 122 with 32 balls to spare.
While the margin underlined India’s superiority, the night also offered clear talking points a spin-led bowling effort, sharp running between the wickets, and lingering concerns around fielding that captain Harmanpreet Kaur was quick to flag.
Rodrigues, named Player of the Match, remained unbeaten on 69, guiding the chase with maturity and precision on a surface that wasn’t as straightforward as it initially appeared. India finished on 122/2 in just 14.4 overs, barely breaking a sweat after controlling the contest with both ball and bat.
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Asked to bat first, Sri Lanka Women never quite found sustained momentum despite a reasonable start. Captain Chamari Athapaththu showed early intent, striking 15 off 12 balls, but Kranti Gaud’s clever change of angle accounted for her in the third over. From there, India’s bowlers tightened the screws.
Hasini Perera (20) and Vishmi Gunaratne (39) attempted to stabilize the innings, taking Sri Lanka to 31/1 at the end of the powerplay. However, the middle overs belonged firmly to India’s spinners. Deepti Sharma was particularly effective, varying her pace intelligently and bowling a maiden over inside the powerplay — a rare sight in modern T20 cricket.
Debutant Vaishnavi Sharma impressed with her control and changes of pace, conceding just 16 runs in four overs, while Sree Charani mixed seam-up deliveries with slower ones to keep batters guessing. Despite being put down twice, Harshitha Samarawickrama couldn’t capitalize and was eventually bowled for 21.
Sri Lanka’s innings faltered badly at the death. Three run-outs including that of Gunaratne in the 18th over reflected mounting pressure and indecision. They limped to 121/6, a total their captain later admitted was “not strong enough” on a surface that still offered value for shots.
India’s chase: calm, controlled, clinical
India’s response began positively, though not without early drama. Shafali Verma looked fluent but perished attempting an aggressive flick, while Smriti Mandhana took time to settle before finding rhythm through the off side. Mandhana’s 25 off 25 balls was significant it included her becoming only the second batter to reach 4000 T20I runs but it was Rodrigues who truly dictated terms.
From the moment she walked in, Rodrigues looked in complete command. Her late cuts, reverse sweeps, and inside-out drives punctured the Sri Lankan field repeatedly, particularly through third man and point. She reached her half-century off just 34 balls, scoring four boundaries in a single over off Shashini Gimhani to effectively end the contest.
Harmanpreet Kaur, unbeaten on 15, played the ideal supporting role, rotating strike and allowing Rodrigues to play freely. The winning run fittingly came off a misfield, symbolic of how little went right for Sri Lanka on the night.
Speaking after the match, Rodrigues emphasized simplicity as the cornerstone of her innings. “It was slightly sticky, not as flat as we thought, but I was in good touch. My mindset is to stay blank and react to the ball,” she said, adding that the team’s focus is firmly on building momentum towards the 2026 T20 World Cup.
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Despite the comprehensive nature of the victory, Harmanpreet Kaur struck a measured note in her post-match assessment. While pleased with the team’s performance with bat and ball, she openly criticized India’s fielding, pointing to multiple dropped catches.
“Yes, the conditions were wet, but that’s not an excuse,” Harmanpreet said. “In crucial matches, these things can cost us. It’s something we are really working hard on.”
Her comments were timely. India dropped at least four chances, including a costly one that gifted Vishmi Gunaratne a six. Against stronger opposition, such lapses could quickly shift momentum.
For Sri Lanka, the defeat highlighted familiar issues conservative batting in the middle overs and an inability to close out innings. Chamari Athapaththu called for a more positive approach, stressing that conditions cannot be used as a shield for poor execution.
India, meanwhile, take a 1–0 lead in the five-match series, with depth, clarity, and composure on full display. If they tighten their fielding, this series could quickly become one-sided. The second T20I on December 23 offers Sri Lanka a chance to respond and India another opportunity to sharpen their World Cup build-up.
