India Women vs Sri Lanka Women, 1st ODI Highlights: India Chase 172 To Beat Sri Lanka In Series Opener

Right then! That is it from the first match. India Women have taken a 1-0 lead and Harmanpreet Kaur has begun her captaincy stint in the 50-over format with a victory. The second ODI will be played on Monday, 4th July. That game is set to begin at 10.00 am IST (4.30 am GMT). But as you all know our build-up will begin in advance. Do join us then! Till then, goodbye and take care!

Deepti Sharma is the Player of the Match. She says that she is happy to bat at any number as the team demands. Mentions that the coach told them to concentrate on partnerships. Claims it was not an easy wicket to bat on as there was turn and they needed to concentrate and apply themselves. Praises Pooja Vastrakar and says she is a hard hitter and she played really well and she enjoys playing with her.

Harmanpreet Kaur the captain of India Women, say that she was enjoying herself, and she is happy to score runs but she is happier that they won the game. Adds that they were looking at building partnerships, and she is happy that they got small partnerships but they want to get bigger ones next time. Mentions that Shafali Verma and Harleen Deol are part-time bowlers and they bowled really well and will be part of their future plans as well. Further ads that the Sri Lankan bowlers bowled really well, they did not let them score runs freely.

Chamari Atapattu, the Sri Lankan skipper says Shafali Verma batted really well in the first half and they needed to stick to their bowling plans. Also believes that they needed to score 230 at least to give their bowlers a chance. Says Inoka Ranaweera is their number one bowler in the team and she bowled really well. Hopes to bounce back in the next game.

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Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka Women won the toss and elected to bat. However, they put on a disappointing show with the bat. They managed just 171 runs on the board. With a little more on the board, they could have been able to pile some pressure and probably win this game. Had it not been for Hasini Perera up the order and Nilakshi de Silva later in the innings, Sri Lanka Women may well have been looking at a loss much earlier in the game. The Indian bowlers performed exceptionally well as a unit and kept picking at the Sri Lankan wickets at regular intervals. The pacers and spinners shared the 10 wickets equally between themselves and set up an easy target for the batters to get.

Sri Lanka Women on the other hand had a tough task in hand right from the beginning. They got off to a good start by grabbing some quick wickets. However, they failed to capitalize on their momentum and let India Women get away with a partnership. They fought back hard, but eventually, failed to get over the line. Inoka Ranaweera was the pick of the bowlers taking 4 wickets for just 39 runs in her full quota of 10 overs and was supported only by Oshadi Ranasinghe who took the other two wickets. The other bowlers were ineffective and could never build pressure on the Indian players.

India Women started really poorly and lost two wickets in no time. Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Harleen Deol played well thereafter to put India well on course to clinch the game. They then went from 123 for 3 to 136 for 6 and this mini-collapse caused a few jitters in the India camp. Pooja Vastrakar came in and played a quick-fire cameo. She along with Deepti Sharma made sure there were no further hiccups and guided India home comfortably at the end. Harmanpreet Kaur scored 44 in the innings and she was the highest scorer for India Women.

India Women have been made to toil hard for what should have been easily done. But they eventually managed to achieve the target and emerged victorious. With this win, they take a 1-0 lead in the series and also gather valuable ICC Women's Championship points.

SIX! BOOM! Pooja Vastrakar finishes things off in style! A fuller ball, around middlle. Pooja Vastrakar dances down the pitch and heaves it high over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. India Women win by 4 wickets!

Back of a length, darting it on the pads. Deepti Sharma tucks it towards square leg for a single.

Outside off, pitches this one up. Deepti Sharma presses forward and drives it towards the fielder at cover.

Shorter one, outside off. Pooja Vastrakar stays in her crease and cuts it towards cover for a single.

On the the pads, short in length again. Pooja Vastrakar tucks it to the fielder at square leg.

SIX! Pooja Vastrakar takes full advantage of the Free Hit! A loopy ball, around off, full in length. Pooja Vastrakar dances down the track and tonks it straight down the ground for a biggie.

No ball! Spinning in, shorter one, around middle. Pooja Vastrakar blocks it out off the back foot. A no ball given for not maintaining the field restrictions! Free Hit to follow!

Fuller this time, outside off. Deepti Sharma takes a big stride forward and defends it out solidly. India Women need 11 runs now.

Slower through the air, full, and on middle. Pooja Vastrakar steps down, yorks herself and works it away to long on for a single.

Darting it on the pads, back of a length. Deepti Sharma gets down on her knee and sweeps it towards deep square leg for a single.

Around the off pole, shorter in length. Deepti Sharma blocks it from within her crease.