Deepti Sharma Sets New Record in Women's T20I Cricket
Deepti Sharma Makes T20I Milestone
Deepti Sharma, the prominent all-rounder from India, has made history by becoming the leading wicket-taker in Women's T20 Internationals, overtaking Australia's Megan Schutt with a total of 151 wickets. This remarkable achievement occurred during the fifth and final T20I against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday, marking her as the first Indian cricketer, regardless of gender, to achieve 150 wickets in T20Is. Currently, Sharma boasts 152 wickets in 133 matches, maintaining an impressive average of over 18.00, with her best bowling figures being 4/10.
India Completes Series Sweep Against Sri Lanka
In the match, India secured a victory by 15 runs, successfully defending a target of 176 runs. The Indian bowlers managed to limit Sri Lanka to 160 runs in their allotted 20 overs, thus clinching the series with a clean sweep of 5-0.
Sri Lanka's Attempt Falls Short
Despite a commendable effort, Sri Lanka could not secure the win. Their captain, Chamari Athapaththu, was dismissed early, but the duo of Imesha Dulani and Hasini Perera formed a solid partnership, adding 79 runs for the second wicket, keeping their team in contention. Unfortunately, losing wickets in quick succession left Sri Lanka 16 runs short of the target.
Kaur and Reddy Lead India to Competitive Score
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur played a pivotal role with a stellar fifty, while Arundhati Reddy's explosive performance in the final over propelled India to a total of 175/7. Reddy and Sneh Rana contributed significantly, adding 33 runs off just 14 balls for the eighth wicket, which proved crucial in setting a challenging target. Reddy's aggressive 20 runs off Malki Madara in the last over made a notable impact on the match.