India Secures Series Victory Against Sri Lanka in Women's T20 Match

Although India comfortably clinched the match, captain Harmanpreet Kaur appeared somewhat concerned on the field. In the fourth T20 encounter held on Sunday, India triumphed over Sri Lanka by 30 runs, establishing an unassailable 4-0 lead in the five-match series. However, during the final overs, the captain had to repeatedly remind her bowlers about maintaining the over rate.

During Sri Lanka's innings, Harmanpreet was seen urging her players to complete their overs more swiftly. Post-match, she acknowledged the time constraints and expressed her desire to avoid any penalties. She emphasized the importance of adhering to the rules during fielding, particularly ensuring that no more than three fielders were outside the circle.

Notably, the foundation of India's victory was laid by the explosive batting of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, who set a record partnership for the first wicket. Mandhana scored 80 runs, while Shafali contributed 79 runs before being dismissed. Richa Ghosh also played a crucial role in bolstering the team's score with her quick runs.

According to available information, Sri Lanka managed to score only 191 runs in their 20 overs while chasing the target. Indian spinner Vaishnavi Sharma excelled with the ball, taking 2 wickets and effectively controlling the run rate.

After the match, Harmanpreet Kaur remarked on the team's good balance and hinted at potential changes for the next game. She also indicated a plan to give Harleen Deol a chance, but the strong start from the opening pair meant that no adjustments were necessary in the batting order.

Player of the Match Smriti Mandhana shared that transitioning from ODI cricket to the T20 format was challenging after a long time, but her hard work paid off. She praised Shafali for her aggressive batting during the powerplay, which provided the team with a significant advantage.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka's captain Chamari Athapaththu acknowledged the need for improvement despite the loss. She admitted that their bowling fell short but noted that the young players gained valuable experience playing against a strong team like India.

The final match of the series is set to take place on Tuesday, where India will aim for a clean sweep while Sri Lanka will strive to salvage some pride.