Full Breakdown
India Secures Victory Over Sri Lanka in Women's Cricket World Cup Opener
10/1/2025, 1:05:04 AM
Match Overview: India vs. Sri Lanka
In the opening match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, India triumphed over Sri Lanka by 59 runs using the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. The match, held in Guwahati, India, was reduced to 47 overs per side due to rain interruptions. India batted first, scoring 269 runs for the loss of eight wickets, while Sri Lanka managed 211 runs before being bowled out in 45.4 overs.
Key Performers
Deepti Sharma was instrumental in India's victory, contributing significantly with both bat and ball. She scored 53 runs off 53 balls and took three wickets for 54 runs. Alongside Amanjot Kaur, who scored 57 runs off 56 balls, Sharma helped stabilize the innings after India faced a middle-order collapse, going from 120 for 2 to 124 for 6 in just 12 deliveries. Their partnership of 103 runs for the seventh wicket was pivotal in setting a competitive total.
In the bowling department, Indian spinners dominated, with Sneh Rana and Shree Charani each taking two wickets. Sri Lanka's captain, Chamari Athapaththu, was the top scorer for her team with 43 runs, but her dismissal by Sharma marked a turning point in the match.
Match Dynamics
India's innings began with a shaky start, losing key players early, including opener Smriti Mandhana, who fell for just eight runs. Despite contributions from Pratika Rawal (37) and Harleen Deol (48), the team struggled until Sharma and Kaur's partnership turned the tide. Sneh Rana's late innings boost, scoring 28 runs off 15 balls, further solidified India's total.
In response, Sri Lanka started well but lost momentum after Athapaththu's wicket. The Indian bowlers applied pressure, leading to regular wickets and preventing Sri Lanka from mounting a serious challenge.
Official Statements & Responses
Deepti Sharma, named Player of the Match, expressed confidence in her performance, stating, “Our partnership was the turning point after we had lost back-to-back wickets. We wanted to take the game deep.” Captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised the team's resilience, noting, “The way they [Amanjot and Sharma] handled the situation was outstanding to watch.”
Sri Lanka's captain, Athapaththu, acknowledged her team's mistakes, particularly the three dropped catches of Kaur, saying, “We executed our plans but we dropped a couple of catches... After losing my wicket, our batters struggled a little bit.”
Attendance and Significance
The match attracted a crowd of over 22,000, marking the highest attendance for an opening day of the Women’s Cricket World Cup. This tournament is particularly significant for India, as it aims for its first Women's World Cup title on home soil, having previously finished as runners-up in 2005 and 2017.
What's Next
India's next match is against archrival Pakistan on Sunday in Colombo, while Sri Lanka will face Australia earlier that same day. The tournament features eight teams competing in 31 matches, culminating in the final on November 2.
