A collective performance from India, led by half-centuries from opener Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur and a four-wicket haul by legspinner Poonam Yadav, helped the team defeat Sri Lanka by 107 runs in the first of three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi.
After being inserted to bat, the Indian top order stitched healthy partnerships in phases to build a reasonably strong total of 245 in its 50 overs. The opening stand between Mandhana and Thirush Kamini was the most productive of the innings, 71, scored in 18.5 overs. Captain Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur engaged in another fruitful period, adding 62 off 89 balls. By the time Raj got out, in the 46th over, India possessed a run-rate of less than 4.5 runs per over. That altered slightly when Jhulan Goswami joind Harmanpreet in the middle and plundered runs alongside her at 11.25 per over. Veda Krishnamurthy and Shikha Pandey, the No. 6 and No. 7, also accelerated, taking India to 245.
In reply, Sri Lanka lost wickets consistently. The only resistance of its innings was provided by opener Prasadani Weerakkody, who scored 69. She engaged in a stand of 63 with Ranasinghe for the third wicket, and during this period Sri Lanka was kept in the hunt. But Yadav catalysed a collapse, which had it losing seven wickets for 44 runs.
The rest of the matches of the ODI series will take place on Wednesday and Friday respectively. The teams will follow this with a three-match Twenty20 International series, also at the same venue.
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