Mithali, Deepti steer India to series win over SL

Helped by a four-wicket haul from seamer Deepti Sharma, and a responsible a half-century from India captain Mithali Raj, India won the second One-Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka by six wickets at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi.

Mithali Raj scored 53 off 80 balls at No. 3.

Helped by a four-wicket haul from seamer Deepti Sharma, and a responsible a half-century from India captain Mithali Raj, India won the second One-Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka by six wickets at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi. The victory gives the team the series, with one match left to be played in the series, before the Twenty20s.

Chasing 179, India comfortably waltzed through with few hiccups, and, with the in-form opener Smriti Mandhana scoring 46, and middle-order batsman Harmanpreet Kaur scoring 41. The target was reached at the start of the 44th over. All four wickets were claimed by left-arm spinner Sugandhika Kumari.

Batting first, Sri Lanka lost wickets consistently. At 101 for 6, middle-order batsmen Dilani Manodara and Eshani Lokusuriyage combined to produce the highest partnership of the faltering innings, 49. The alliance ended via a run-out, and there transpired another run-out later, as Sri Lanka folded for 178.

The third ODI will be played on Friday, and the three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) between the two teams, at the same venue, follow.