India defeated Sri Lanka in the Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup match on Sunday and got their campaign back on track in the Group 1 Super Six stage with a resounding seven-wicket victory. After India’s seven-wicket defeat against Australia on Saturday, its bowlers produced a stellar performance to restrict Sri Lanka Under-19s to just 59 runs in their stipulated 20 overs.
Sixteen-year-old leg-spinner Parshvi Chopra was among the Indian bowlers, taking four wickets while left-arm spinner Mannat Kashyap took two as the duo tore apart the opposition batting line-up. India achieved the target of victory in 7.2 overs by losing the wickets of captain Shefali Verma, wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh and Shweta Sehrawat.
Soumya Tiwary (28 not out) then hit five fours in just 15 balls as India made a mockery of this modest total. Earlier, India won the toss and elected to field first and had instant success when Bengal pacer Teetas Sandhu dismissed Netmi Senarathna on the very first ball.
The spinners took charge quickly and in no time Sri Lanka were enthralled by their spell, with only captain Wismi Gunaratne (25) and Umaya Ratnayake (13) managing to score in double figures.
The accuracy of the bowlers can be gauged from the fact that only one run was given as extra. Bowling a tight line, the Indian bowlers did not give their opponents any space to play their strokes freely, and Sri Lanka’s innings saw only three boundaries.
Opening batsman and a member of India’s senior team, Shafali, after a forgettable innings against Australia on Saturday where she scored eight runs, could use the chance to find form against Sri Lanka on Sunday. But the 18-year-old managed only 15 runs and was trapped in front of off-spinner Deumi Vihanga, who took all three Indian wickets.