India Women continued their dominant run against Sri Lanka Women in the second T20I of the five-match series, putting the visitors under pressure early after opting to bowl first at Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka were 71 for 2 in 10.5 overs at the time of reporting, struggling to build momentum against a disciplined Indian bowling attack. India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and had no hesitation in fielding first, a decision that paid dividends almost immediately.
The breakthrough came early when young pacer Kranti Goud dismissed Vishmi Gunaratne for just 1, setting the tone for India. Soon after, Sri Lanka suffered a bigger blow as captain Chamari Athapaththu was sent back cheaply, leaving the visitors two down inside the powerplay. The early wickets stalled Sri Lanka’s plans of an aggressive start.
Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama then tried to steady the innings with a cautious partnership. Perera showed some intent, striking a boundary off Kranti Goud, while Samarawickrama rotated the strike to keep the scoreboard ticking. However, India ensured there were no easy runs on offer, maintaining tight lines and sharp fielding.
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Spinner Sneh Rana was the standout performer with the ball. She bowled a superb maiden over in the middle phase, finishing her spell with figures of 2 overs, 6 runs, and 1 wicket. Her accuracy and variations made scoring difficult and forced the Sri Lankan batters into defensive mode. Young bowler Sree Charani also impressed, keeping things tight in her short spell.
India entered the match with confidence after an emphatic eight-wicket win in the first T20I and currently lead the series 1-0. Coming off a historic World Cup triumph last month, the Indian team looks settled and hungry, combining experience with promising young talent.
As Sri Lanka look to rebuild after the drinks break, India will aim to keep the pressure on and restrict the visitors to a manageable total, strengthening their grip on the series.
