Hello and welcome to the coverage of India's tour of Sri Lanka. This was Lalith Kalidas bringing you the updates from the 1st ODI in Pallekale.
In the end, India has managed to calm its nerves to get through a tricky run-chase. Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar putting the lid on the Lankan spinners in the end after the sheer lack of runs on the board comes back to haunt the home side. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur once against stemmed a collapse, however, her dismissal after a well-compiled 44 opened the floodgates once again. Nevertheless, India takes the 1-0 lead on the back of a refined bowling performance.
IND 176/6 in 38 overs: Ranasinghe sends in a flat delivery and Vastrakar charges down to thump it all the way for a SIX! A single to follow. India three away from the win. A single and Vastarakar's back on strike. Vastrakar bludgeons the ball over long-on for a massive SIX and seals the chase for India!
India needs 11 runs in 13 overs.
IND 161/6 in 37 overs: Deepti and Vastrakar shed the big shots and continue to tread on singles. Dilhari darts one in and Deepti sweeps it to square-leg for a single.
IND 156/6 in 36 overs: Rashmi strays down leg and Deepti employs a fine sweep for two runs. A good save down in the deep by Inoka Ranaweera.
IND 152/6 in 35 overs: Dilhari finds the outside-edge off Deepti and the ball drifts past backward point for three runs. 150 up for India. The finish line is withing sight and India would hope this pair could seal the deal.
IND 148/6 in 34 overs: Rashmi returns. She offers room to Vastrakar who slaps it down to deep cover for a single. Deepti retains strike after pushing a full-toss down to long-on for one run.
IND 146/6 in 33 overs: Deepti and Vastrakar keep their guards down and deal in singles. Four runs off the over as India quietly shaves off each run from the deficiit.
IND 142/6 in 32 overs: A jaffa from Ranaweera! Cuts down her pace this time and straightens the ball from the fuller length to whizz past Vastrakar's bat. A wicket in the offing?
IND 139/6 in 31 overs: Dilhari darts one in and snakes it past Deepti's leaning blade. Another probing with just the single off the last ball. Deepti retains strike.
Kavisha Dilhari returns
IND 138/6 in 30 overs: Ranaweera to Ghosh, OUT! There goes another. Ghosh is caught in two minds as Ranaweera skids one off the length. The feet moves nowhere as the ball finds the outside-edge to the keeper. Sri Lanka is clawing back to this one, folks! Pooja Vastrakar is in at 8.
Richa Ghosh c †Sanjeewani b Ranaweera 6 (11b)
IND 136/5 in 29 overs: Ranasinghe manages to keep Ghosh and Deepti on their toes as the spinners suddenly have found the right lengths to traps the Indians.Three runs from it as the chase stiffens.
IND 133/5 in 28 overs: Ranaweera to Harleen, OUT! Harleen attempts to flick as the ball straightens to hit her pads from the fuller length. No doubts there for the umpire who raises his finger in a flash. India might be feeling a few jitters now? Richa Ghosh walks in at 7.
Harleen Deol lbw b Ranaweera 34 (40b 2x4)
IND 130/4 in 27 overs: Ranasinghe keeps it tight onto the stumps. Five runs come off the over as Sri Lanka aims to nab a few more quick wickets.
IND 125/4 in 26 overs: Ranaweera to Harmanpreet, OUT! That's plumb in front and the skipper has to go. Attempts to sweep one more but the ball simply skids through to rap the pads.
Harmanpreet Kaur lbw b Ranaweera 44 (63b 3x4)
IND 123/3 in 25 overs: Kulasuriya offers room and Harmanpreet sits on one knee and laps the ball past point for FOUR. A cracking extra cover drive nearly beats the mid-off fielder but, nope, a fine stop there by the fielder to save three runs.
IND 112/3 in 24 overs: Short delivery and Harmanpreet pumps it down to deep mid-wicket for a single. Harleen tucks one to mid-on for another run and the 50-run partnership is up for this pair in just 51 deliveries.
Chamari Athapaththu into the attack
IND 108/3 in 23 overs: Kulasuriya drills the ball in hard to the stumps and yet the batters work it across the field easily for singles. Four runs from the over as the skipper and Harleen have neutralised the bowlers for now.
IND 104/3 in 22 overs: 100 up for India. Harleen has come up and took on the scoring rate all by herself to leave Harmanpreet with some breathing space.
IND 97/3 in 21 overs: Harleen scrapes through a risky single after a direct-hit at the non-striker's in. Harleen makes ground in time as five runs come off the over.
Kulasuriya returns
IND 92/3 in 20 overs: A proactive partnership blossoming here between the captain and Harleen. Harleen employs a fierce cut through cover point for FOUR.
IND 84/3 in 19 overs: Rashmi tosses one up and Harmanpreet steps out to punch the ball past mid-off for FOUR. Another loopy delivery and Harman sweeps it to square-leg for a single. A poor low full-toss down leg and Harleen swivels to put the ball past short fine-leg for FOUR.
IND 72/3 in 18 overs: Harleen elegantly rocks back to her back-foot to punch the ball through point for two runs.
IND 67/3 in 17 overs: Harman and Harleen work the field for four singles. India consciously attempting to keep the dot balls down.
IND 63/3 in 16 overs: Ranaweera to Shafali, OUT! Shoddy dismissal for Shafali as she lazes down the track as Ranaweera quickly slides the ball down leg for Sanjeewani to flick the stumps. Poor bit of batting there for the Indian opener. Harleen Deol in at 5. She is off the mark with a single first ball. Harmanpreet records her 3000th ODI run with a slog-sweep to backward square.
Shafali Verma st †Sanjeewani b Ranaweera 35 (40b 1x4 2x6)
IND 60/2 in 15 overs: Shafali advances to hit a low full-toss back to the bowler. Rashmi quickly collects the ball and hits the stumps as Harmanpreet sheepishly turn back to return to the crease. Lucky reprieve for Harmanpreet as she gets back in the nick of time.
IND 55/2 in 14 overs: Shafali continues to maneuver Ranaweera by shuffling across the line and working the balls towards mid-wicket and mid-on. Ranaweera foxes Harmanpreet with a slower-delivery that drifts away to whiff past the outside-half of the bat. Harmanpreet sits on one knee for a sweep but pulls out of the shot as Ranaweera wafts another delivery on a similar line.
IND 54/2 in 13 overs: Shafali steps out to drag the ball down to long-on for a single. A couple of loopy deliveries hits the fuller length and the batters find three runs in the over.
Rashmi Silva into the attack..
IND 51/2 in 12 overs: Harmanpreet and Shafali nudge about the field for five runs. FIFTY up for India.
IND 46/2 in 11 overs: Shafali advances and whips the ball gorgeously over long-on for a massive SIX. She is making her intentions clear to move out of the rut with aggression.
IND 36/2 in 10 overs: Ranasinghe keeps Shafali in check as she attempts to step out and charge. Just the single from the over.
IND 35/2 in 9 overs: Ranaweera tosses up a couple of deliveries nicely into Harmanpreet's front-foot stride. Kaur steps out to push a single through to mid-off.
Inoka Ranaweera continues
IND 34/2 in 8 overs: Live feed returns as Ranasinghe runs through another fine over.
LIVE feed is unavailable due to technical issues.
IND 27/2 in 7 overs
IND 21/2 in 6 overs: Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur is aiming to prevent a downslide with Shafali Verma.
IND 20/2 in 5 overs
IND 17/2 in 4 overs: Shafali gets her first FOUR as she slog sweeps Ranasinghe to the fence. A single follows. Ranasinghe to Yastika, OUT! There goes another. Ranasinghe cleans up another left-hander and India is in a spot of bother.
Yastika Bhatia b Ranasinghe 1 (8b)
IND 12/1 in 3 overs
IND 9/1 in 2 overs: Oshadi Ranasinghe to Mandhana, OUT! Ranasinghe cleans up Mandhana with a good-length delivery. Early jolt for the Indians on a tricky surface. Yastika Bhatia in at 3.
Smriti Mandhana b Ranasinghe 4 (7b 1x4)
IND 9/0 in 1 over: - Achini Kulasuriya concedes a boundary to Smriti Mandhana.
Mandhana and Shafali are apparently out there.
2:00PM IST: There is some delay in the second-innings start. The broadcast feed has also gone down, awaiting further updates.
Sri Lanka's top and middle-order had a massive task at hand with skipper Chamari Athapaththu perishing early. However, India ensured that the batters would have grind it out and earn the runs the hard way after a iffy start with the new-ball. The spinners, Deepti Sharma, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur herself found prodigious turn from the surface, making it all the more arduous for the batters. If Sri Lanka's spinners respond in equal measure, the chase could get interesting.
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SL 171 all out in 48.1 overs: Deepti Sharma tosses one in and Rashmi plays all around it with an attempted sweep. India needs 172 runs to take a 1-0 series lead.
SL 171/9 in 48 overs: A cracking bouncer from Vastrakar hits Ranaweera's helmet and the ball flies over first slip for a much-needed FOUR. A slower-bouncer to follow and Ranaweera waits to slap it down to deep mid-wicket for one run. Short delivery and Ranaweera whacks the ball through mid-wicket for FOUR. Vastrakar sends in a slower-bouncer down leg, close to the bat and the umpires refer it to the third-umpire. The soft signal is OUT. A good low grab to the right there from Yastika. And it stays OUT as the third-umpire passes his decision.
Inoka Ranaweera c †Bhatia b Vastrakar 12 (15b 2x4)
Vastrakar replaces Renuka
SL 160/8 in 47 overs: The batters avoid nicking one off to Gayakwad's loopy deliveries that turn from side to another off length. Two runs from it with 18 balls to go.
SL 158/8 in 46 overs: Ranaweera pushes the ball past Renuka who is momentarily in cotention for a catch. Four runs from the over as Gayakwad returns to the attack.
SL 154/8 in 45 overs: Kaur teases Ranaweera with a string of deliveries that turn in to the left-hander from outside the leg-stump. Two runs from the over.
SL 152/8 in 44 overs: Short from Renuka and Ranasinghe slashes the ball hard and the thick-edge races past the slip region for FOUR runs. 150 up for SL. Renuka to Ranasinghe, OUT! Foxes her with a slower-length delivery and the ball slips through the gates to hit the stumps. Inoka Ranaweera is the new batter.
Oshadi Ranasinghe b Renuka Singh 8 (14b 1x4)
SL 146/7 in 43 overs: Kaur to continue. She continues to find some sharp turn as Yastika is challenge with another hard grab down the on-side. Just the one run from the over as Sri Lanka battles to play out the full quota of overs.
SL 145/7 in 42 overs: Renuka shapes the ball away from De Silva as she attempts to the flick ball through mid-wicket but fails. A single to follow and Ranasinghe is on strike. She takes the ball across the left-hander this time and beats the outside-edge. Ranasinghe finds the single with a drive through extra cover. Renuka to De Silva, OUT! Slower-ball onto the pads and De Silva plays around it. The umpire raises his finger after a pause and De Silva's sturdy rearguard knock comes to an end. Debutant Rashmi Silva in at 9.
Nilakshi de Silva lbw b Renuka Singh 43 (63b 4x4)
Renuka Singh into the attack
SL 141/6 in 41 overs: Ranasinghe slog-sweeps Kaur to deep mid-wicket for a single. De Silva sets herself for a slam across the wicket but Harmanpreet checks her pace and keeps the batter rooted to the crease. Harman gets some turn as the ball climbs to the leg-stump and De Silva tucks it safely past the keeper. A single to finish and De Silva retains strike.
Harmanpreet replaces Deepti
SL 138/6 in 40 overs: Gayakwad rushes one onto Ranasinghe's pad. Seems like the ball has just slid down leg.
SL 132/6 in 39 overs: Deepti Sharma finds the outside-edge off Ranasinghe but the ball falls short of Harmanpreet who stays a couple of yards out from a conventional first-slip.
SL 131/6 in 38 overs: Gayakwad loops one in and Anushka sweeps to deep mid-wicket and reels in two runs. A corker from Gayakwad! Confounds the batter and keeper with a delivery that slips in and turns away sharply past the outside-edge for FOUR. Rajeshwari to Anushka, OUT! Faint bottom-edge and Yastika holds onto a sharp catch. Gayakwad tosses it up straight this time as Anushka attempts a sweep off the wrong length.
Anushka Sanjeewani c †Bhatia b Gayakwad 18 (48b)
SL 127/5 in 37 overs: De Silva attempts to charge Deepti who quickly slides the ball into the batter and quells the attack.
Deepti Sharma returns
SL 125/5 in 36 overs: Gayakwad forces the batters deep into the crease. Three runs come off the over as the innings continues to flatten for Sri Lanka.
SL 122/5 in 35 overs: Valuable five runs for Sri Lanka. De Silva dabs Gayakwad to point for a single but the throw from point hits the stumps at the non-striker's and races away to the fence with no back-up on offer.
SL 116/5 in 34 overs: A slip in place as Gayakwad returns to ball to the right-handed Anushka. She leans forward to employ a neat defence. Two runs from the over.
SL 114/5 in 33 overs: Meghna employs a couple of short deliveries to the batters as Anushka and De Silva continue to keep their anchors nailed deep.
SL 111/5 in 32 overs: Shafali, India's eighth bowler of the innings, rushes through another over. Just a couple of singles as Sri Lanka seemingly aims to bat out the full 50 overs.
Shafali continues
SL 109/5 in 31 overs: De Silva and Anushka chip in with the odd-single to lead SL towards the deep-end. Wonder, if one end will at least break free after the drinks break.
Meghna Singh returns
SL 107/5 in 30 overs: India's bowlers are making merry as Harmanpreet continues her experiments as the batter struggle to make a plan of attack. Shafali concedes two singles in her first over.
Shafali Verma replaces Harleen Deol. Harmanpreet continues to shuffle through her bowlers.
SL 105/5 in 29 overs: De Silva attempts to keep herself busy but struggles to find the gaps. Vastrakar continues to amplify the pressure on the batters as the dot-ball count springs up.
SL 103/5 in 28 overs: 100 up for a Sri Lanka as Harleen strays to De Silva's pads and concedes FOUR runs. The batter deftly puts it behind the keeper and takes SL to three figures.
SL 98/5 in 27 overs: Vastrakar continues to exploit the fine lines as the batters keep a watchful eye while treading on singles.
SL 95/5 in 26 overs: Harleen Deol is keeping the batters on their feet as she mixes up her potent leg-break with a couple of wrong'uns. Just the two runs from the over.
SL 93/5 in 25 overs: Cracking delivery from Vastrakar. She squares up Anushka with a delivery that seams in off the deck and nearly clips the outside-half of the bat. A bit of two-paced bounce at the moment and the batters have it even harder against Vastrakar. Vastrakar strays to the pads and this time De Silva shuffles across and flicks it beautifully past deep mid-wicket for FOUR.
SL 88/5 in 24 overs: A fine start for Harleen who whiffs one past Anshuka's wafting blade outside the off-stump. A single to long-on follows. De Silva gets a top-edge from the sweep and the ball falls short of the backward square leg fielder for a single.
Harleen Deol into the attack
SL 84/5 in 23 overs: De Silva slashes hard and the ball flies pastthe first slip fielder for FOUR. A close shave there for De Silva. She gets off strike with a single. Vastrakar to Perera, OUT! A fine bowling change and an even better delivery from Vastrakar. The ball straightens in swiftly to hit Perera's pads plumb in front. The ball stays a touch low and that leaves the batter flummoxed for time. Sri Lanka loses half of its batters as we near the halfway mark of the innings. Anushka Sanjeewani in at 7.
Harshitha Samarawickrama lbw b Vastrakar 28 (54b 3x4)
Pooja Vastrakar into the attack
SL 78/4 in 22 overs: India needling in a slew of quick overs with the boundaries drying up once again. Harshitha is on 27 off 51 deliveries as Sri Lanka continues its recovery.
SL 75/4 in 21 overs: Another one, nearly! Gayakwad tosses one up nicely outside the off-stump and De Silva attempts for the slog-sweep but misses. The ball whiffs past the top of off as Rajeshwari stands in disbelief. Similar lengths and this time De Silva connects well over mid-off for FOUR runs.
Gayakwad replaces Harmanpreet
SL 69/4 in 20 overs: Deepti Sharma slides the ball across the turf and Harshitha quickly shuffles to the backfoot and works the ball behind square for FOUR. Deepti corrects her line and Harshitha struggles to get past the fielders. A rash sweep nearly squares her up.
SL 65/4 in 19 overs: Kaur running through another over with a slew of dots to Harshitha. She gets a single off the fourth delivery. Harmanpreet to Dilhari, OUT! A soft dismissal there. Kaur pins the batter to the crease and Kavisha flicks it straight to mid-wicket. Nilakshi de Silva in at 6.
Kavisha Dilhari c Shafali Verma b Kaur 0 (2b)
SL 63/3 in 18 overs: Deepti Sharma to Perera, OUT! That's plumb in front! Deepti darts one right into the toes as Perera misjudges the length for the sweep. No doubts there for the umpire and Perera's bizarre knock of two halves falls apart. Kavisha Dilhari in at 5.
Hasini Perera lbw b Sharma 37 (54b 5x4)
SL 60/2 in 17 overs: Maiden over for Harmanpreet. Perera has gone from aggressor to accumulator within the first hour.
SL 60/2 in 16 overs: Gayakwad's attack from around the wicket has not paid dividends as yet. She switches over and concedes four singles on the trot as the batters employ sweeps ranging from mid-wicket to backward square for runs.
SL 55/2 in 15 overs: Kaur maintains a flatter trajectory to Perera who attempts to slog-sweep but fails to get bat on ball. Three runs from the over as Perera and Harshitha deal in ones and twos.
SL 52/2 in 14 overs: The batters are visibly challenged while taking on Gayakwad's deliveries that zip in. The batters exchange strike with a couple of watchfully crafted singles.
SL 50/2 in 13 overs: FIFTY up for Sri Lanka as Harmanpreet skims through a quiet first over. Just the four runs coming off it as the boundaries have gone dry for Lankans.
Harmanpreet Kaur into the attack
SL 46/2 in 12 overs: Massive turn from the length for Gayakwad and the ball zips down leg for a wide. Yastika prevents a boundary with a good dive. Gayakwad corrects her line to outside the off-stump and the ball clips the outside-edge off Harshitha and lobs out to the short cover region. Rajeshwari flattens her length and Harshitha responds with a firm push through cover point for FOUR.
Rajeshwari Gayakwad replaces Meghna Singh
SL 41/2 in 11 overs: Deepti tosses on up and Harshitha finally breaks the shackles with a quick slash over second-slip for FOUR.
SL 34/2 in 10 overs: Another quiet over for the Lankans as Meghna varies her lengths and pace throughout the over. Four runs from it and Deepti continues from the other end.
SL 30/2 in 9 overs: Deepti comes over the wicket this time. Loud shout as Deepti drifts one past Harshitha's wafting blade outside the off-stump first ball. The umpire is unmoved and the Indians' enthusiasm dies down soon after. Deepti continues to exploit a fine line of attack, pushing Harshitha onto her toes. Maiden over for Deepti.
SL 30/2 in 8 overs: Meghna has mounted the pressure on the batters with a couple of tight overs, improving on her rhythm through this spell now. Just the single off her fourth over.
SL 29/2 in 7 overs: Turn, from ball one! Deepti begins from around the wicket to the left-handed Perera and finds some prodigious turn from the good length. She follows up with a ball that slides in and Perera unleashes a cracking slog-sweep for FOUR through mid-wicket. A single gets Hansima back on strike. Deepti to Hansima, OUT! A horrendous knock comes to an end. Hansima in her bid to get off the blocks, attempts to clear mid-off but miscues her shot to mid-off. Harshitha Samarawickrama comes in at 4.
Hansima Karunaratne c Vastrakar b Sharma 0 (11b)
Deepti Sharma into the attack
SL 24/1 in 6 overs: Meghna overpitches again and Perera drives through cover but there's some protection at the fence this time. Meghna follows up with a sharp bouncer to Hansima who shoulders arms. Eight dots now for the right-hander, yet to get off the mark. IN THE AIR and Hansima nearly holes out to point with a nervy drive.
SL 23/1 in 5 overs: Sri Lanka is gracing the off-field fence with a string of boundaries. Perera finds the gap once again as Renuka errs by going too full outside the off-stump once again. She comes around the wicket to better her line.
SL 18/1 in 4 overs: Meghna goes loose with a couple of deliveries outside the off-stump and Hasini Perera cashes in with two delectable punches through deep extra cover for FOURs.
SL 13/1 in 3 overs: Chamari attempts to take advantage of Renuka's wafty delivery by stepping out to attack but gets an inside-edge back onto the turf. A single follows, another inside-edge. Renuka to Chamari. OUT! This time Renuka slides it across the pitch to the left-hander and finds a faint outside-edge. Yastika takes a neat catch behind the stumps and India has got itself a massive wicket early on. Hansima Karunaratne in at 3.
Chamari Athapaththu c †Bhatia b Renuka Singh 2 (8b)
SL 11/0 in 2 overs: Probing start for Meghna who gets pronounced movement in her first over. She wraps the ball sharp into Chamari's pads and the fielders go up in a loud appeal which is turned down. Just the three runs from it.
Meghna Singh from the opposite end
SL 8/0 in 1 over: Runs for Perera off the second ball. Renuka pushes the ball on length outside the off-stump and Perera eases into a gentle drive through point for FOUR. Renuka touches full and Perera thumps the ball through extra cover for another FOUR. Minimal movement here for the seamer.
Renuka Singh up with the new ball. Perera on strike.
Sri Lankan openers Chamari Athapaththu and Hasini Perera walk out to the centre.
We are done with the national anthems. The Indian huddle takes shape before dispersing over the outfield.
India XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Meghna Singh
Sri Lanka XI : Hasini Perera, Chamari Athapaththu(c), Hansima Karunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Harshitha Madavi, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani(w), Oshadi Ranasinghe, Rashmi de Silva, Inoka Ranaweera, Achini Kulasuriya
Hear what Harmanpreet Kaur has to say ahead of her first ODI series as full-time skipper.
9:26am: India will begin its new ODI World Championship cycle in Pallekale today. The top five teams and the yet to be announced host nation will qualify directly to the 2025 ODI World Cup. A new journey begins for Harmanpreet and Co.
9:06am: As Harmanpreet Kaur embarks on her first assignment as full-time ODI captain, here's a look at her stats in her limited outings as ODI skipper.
MATCH PREVIEW
Starting a new era in 50-over cricket without the peerless Mithali Raj, the newly-appointed skipper Harmanpreet Kaur will seek an improved performance across departments from his players as Indian women eye a winning start against host Sri Lanka in a three-match series, starting Friday.
India will be without its two pillars -- Mithali, who retired from cricket earlier this month, and Jhulan Goswami, who is nursing a side strain.
The absence of international cricket's most prolific duo is just one of several concerns for captain Kaur ahead of the ODI series opener.
READ: ‘Enjoying captaincy, no extra pressure’
The Indians made a positive start to the tour of the island nation by winning the T20I series 2-1 but their performance was far from perfect and while the format will change, the regulars in the side would be keen to put up a dominant display against the lowly-ranked (ninth) Sri Lanka.
"It is new journey for me also," Kaur, who was handed the ODI captaincy after Mithali retired, said at the pre-match press conference.
"My main motive is to improve our fitness and fielding. These are the two areas where I personally want the team to do well in," she added.
The batters struggled on the slow track at Dambulla, unable to breach the 140-run mark in all three T20Is and the likes of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma would hope for a better and consistent show in the 50-over format.
The last time India played a 50-over match was during the World Cup in March, when it failed to qualify for the semi-finals. The Indian batting unit has failed to fire as a group back then and would be eager to rectify its weaknesses.
READ:
Kaur herself has been in good touch. After finishing as the highest run-getter for her side in the T20 series, it will augur well for India if the skipper can continue her top form alongside all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar.
Young wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh, who shone in the in the series against New Zealand earlier this year, will be on the look-out for a good show even though team management used Yastika Bhatia as a stop-gap keeper in one of the T20I games.
With the seasoned Jhulan not in the side, the young and relatively inexperienced fast bowling unit comprising Vastrakar, Simran Bahadur, Meghna Singh and Renuka Singh will be tested by the Lankan batting line-up headlined by Chamari Athapaththu.
The spinners have been largely on the mark but struggled in the third game. Poonam Yadav and Rajeshwari Gayakwad will have their task cut out in the longer format. Kaur and Harleen Doel, with her leg breaks, too can pitch in with some useful overs.
READ:
The tourist will also have to work on their fielding. It has been sloppy throughout the the T20 series, missing a slew of run outs and also dropping catches.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be keen to keep the winning momentum going after picking a conciliatory victory in the last T20I.
The host performed as a cohesive unit with all department firing. But the batters need to lift their game.
On the bowling front, the spin duo of Inoka Ranaweera and Oshadi Ranasinghe have been the stand-out players, doing most of the heavy lifting.
Sri Lanka lost the ODI series against Pakistan earlier this month and would be hoping to avoid a second consecutive series loss in the format.
- PTI
RELATED
Squads
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), S Meghana, Deepti Sharma, Poonam Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Simran Bahadur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Singh, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Harleen Deol.
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Vishmi Gunaratne, Ama Kanchana, Hansima Karunaratne, Achini Kulasuriya, Sugandika Kumari, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Udeshika Prabodhani, Oshadi Ranasinghe Inoka Ranaweera, Sathya Sandeepani, Anushka Sanjeewani, Malsha Shehani,Tharika Sewwandi.
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