In Tuesday’s rain-shortened ICC Women’s World Cup opener in Guwahati, India defeated Sri Lanka by 59 runs under the DLS Method.
After two rain delays forced the match to be reduced 47 overs each side, India reached 269/8 thanks to a 103-run partnership between Amanjot Kaur (57 off 56 balls) and Deepti Sharma (53 off 53 balls) for the seventh wicket.
India got off to a strong start to the tournament, as Deepti returned figures of 3/54 and Sri Lanka was all out for 211 in 45.4 overs after chasing a DLS target of 271.
After being sent to bat first, India was in serious trouble when Sri Lankan spinner Inoka Ranaweera took four wickets for 46 runs, reducing the hosts to 124/6 before Amanjot and Deepti made amends.
In her first Women’s World Cup match, Amanjot Kaur showed resilience and character under pressure when she and veteran Deepti Sharma helped pull India out of a hazardous situation and record a tough 269 for eight against Sri Lanka in the tournament’s opening encounter in Guwahati on Tuesday.
After losing four wickets in two overs, India was in trouble at 124/6 when Amanjot, a 24-year-old from Mohali, came into the middle. The match was reduced to 47 overs a side due to several rain breaks during the innings.
Amanjot (57 off 56) and senior partner Deepti Sharma (53 off 53) combined for 103 runs off 99 balls to rebuilt the innings.
Amanjot had incredible poise right away, punishing loose deliveries and rotating the strike. As the inexperienced Sri Lankan fielders struggled to hang onto opportunities, she also managed to survive three reprieves, being dropped on 18, 37, and 50.
In order to keep India afloat, Amanjot used aggression and control to reach her first World Cup half-century off just 45 balls, which included five fours and a massive six.
In the process of anchoring the opposite end, senior hitter Deepti reached her 16th WODI fifty.
Sneh Rana played a crucial cameo, smashing 28* off just 15 balls with two fours and two sixes to lift India’s total. But despite being tournament favourites at home, India endured a shaky start as Sri Lanka stunned them early, with left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera ripping through the top order to leave them reeling at 124/6.
India was left reeling after the 39-year-old Inoka tore through the middle order, taking three wickets in five balls: captain Harmanpreet Kaur (21), Jemimah Rodrigues (0), and a well-set Harleen Deol (48).
As the Indians appeared rusty and lacking in effort, losing four wickets for just four runs, the collapse was further exacerbated by the shocking dismissal of Richa Ghosh by Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu.
Pratika Rawal, the well-set opener, was removed by Ranaweera in her very first over after an 80-minute rain delay following the tenth over. Rawal appeared strong but played too many dot balls.
