INDIA WOMEN'S CRICKET TEAM MARCHES TO TRI-NATION SERIES THRILLER IN COLOMBO
Colombo, Sri Lanka - 16th February
India Women's Cricket Team emerged as the champions of the Women's ODI Tri-Nation Series in Colombo after a thrilling victory over Sri Lanka by 97 runs in the final. Batting first, India posted an impressive total of 342/7, courtesy of a century from Smriti Mandhana.
However, it was not enough to trouble Sri Lanka's batting lineup, which was bowled out for 245 despite several notable performances. Sneh Rana spearheaded India's attack with four wickets in the final, taking her total tally to 15 wickets throughout the five-match series, where she was also named Player of the Series.
The victory marked a successful comeback outing for Rana after a long hiatus and sent a strong message ahead of the World Cup. "I am very pleased to have contributed," she said, highlighting her efforts in working hard to regain form and expressing confidence about her team's chances in the world tournament.
India's skipper Harmanpreet Kaur also expressed her satisfaction with the team performance, calling it a well-planned innings that capitalized on favorable batting wickets. Meanwhile, teammate Smriti Mandhana continued to prove herself as one of the leading batsmen, scoring her 11th ODI century and paving the way for India's victory.
For Sri Lanka, several players showed glimpses of brilliance but ultimately faltered under pressure. Captain Chamari Athapaththu scored 51 off 66 but was unable to build a strong partnership with other batters. Overall, it was a satisfying end to the series for India, which looks set to continue its rise as a dominant force in women's cricket.
FINAL SCORES
India: 342/7 (Smriti Mandhana 116, Pratika Rawal 30, Harleen Deol 47) vs Sri Lanka: 245 all out
M match Stats
- Man of the Series: Sneh Rana
- Player of the Match: Smriti Mandhana
- India's Total: 15 wickets in 5 matches
- Sri Lanka's Overall Performance: 4 wins, 1 loss