India Women vs Sri Lanka Women, 2nd T20I Match Summary

After a dominant start to the five-match series, the newly crowned ODI World Champions, India Women, look to extend their lead as they face Sri Lanka Women in the 2nd T20I in Visakhapatnam. The series opener saw a clinical performance from the Women in Blue, chasing down a modest target with 32 balls to spare. For Sri Lanka, the challenge is now about survival, finding a way to stop the Indian momentum before the series moves from Visakhapatnam to Thiruvananthapuram. India’s transition from their ODI World Cup triumph to the T20I format has been seamless. In the first match, the bowlers exploited the conditions perfectly, and Jemimah Rodrigues provided a masterclass in T20 batting with an unbeaten 69 off 44 balls. A significant milestone was also reached by Smriti Mandhana, who became only the second woman in history to cross 4,000 T20I runs, joining New Zealand's Suzie Bates. With the debut of young left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma (who impressed with figures of 0/16 in 4 overs), India’s bowling attack looks deeper and more varied than ever. The visitors struggled to find any rhythm in the series opener. Despite a steady start from Vishmi Gunaratne (39), the middle order failed to accelerate, finishing on a below-par 121/6. The biggest concern for Sri Lanka remains the form of their talismanic captain, Chamari Athapaththu. Her early dismissal in the first game left the team rudderless. For Sri Lanka to compete, Athapaththu must provide the explosive start she is known for, allowing the likes of Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari to play more freely in the middle overs. The Vizag surface remains a batter's paradise, though the evening fixtures bring the dew factor into play. In the 1st T20I, the ball skidded onto the bat much better in the second innings, making chasing a massive advantage and it will be interesting to see if the Lankans can come together as a batting unit or not.