Indian women make a mess of an easy 129-run target losing their way and the World Twenty20 opener to Sri Lanka by 22 runs at the Sylhet Stadium on Monday
Sylhet: India put up a listless batting display to suffer a 22-run defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in its opening Group B match of the ICC Women's World Twenty20, here today.
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Asked to bowl first after losing the toss, the Indian bowlers did a reasonable job to restrict Sri Lanka to a modest 128 for eight. In reply, India lost wickets at regular intervals to make a heavy weather of the chase and eventually finished at 106 for nine, thereby falling short by 22 runs at the Sylhet Stadium.
Four Indian batters -- Shikha Pandey (22), Harmanpreet Kaur (17), captain Mithali Raj (16) and Jhulan Goswami (11) -- reached double digit scores but their efforts were not enough to take India home.
Left-arm pacer Udeshika Prabodhani (2/9), left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera (2/18) and off-spinner Maduri Samuddika (2/20) did the bulk of the damage, sharing six wickets between them to rock India's chase.
Earlier, Chamari Jayangani scored a vital 43 and Eshani Lokusuriyage smashed a quickfire 34 to lay the foundation for Sri Lanka's total. Opening the batting, Jayangani played sensibly and held one end up as wickets continued to tumble from the other.
Jayagani scored her runs off 44 balls with the help of five fours, while Lokusuriyage laced her 29-ball knock with four boundaries. Apart from the duo, Yasoda Mendis and Chamari Polgampola made identical scores of 13 for the islanders.
For India, leg-break bowler Poonam Yadav picked up two wickets for 20 runs.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka Women: 128 for eight in 20 overs (Chamari Jayangani 43, Eshani Lokusuriyage 34; Poonam Yadav 2/20). India Woemen: 106 for nine in 20 overs (Shikha Pandey 22, Harmanpreet Kaur 17; Udeshika Prabodhani 2/9).
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