INDIA WOMEN BEAT SRI LANKA, MITHALI GETS TO 2000 T20 RUNS

KUALA LUMPUR: Mithali Raj became the first India cricketer to amass 2000 runs in T20s as India bear Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the Women’s Asia Cup T20 here. Mithali now has 2,015 runs in 75 matches.

After two victories over Thailand and Malaysia, India were handed a reality check in their last game by Bangladesh, who notched up a comprehensive seven-wicket win to record their maiden international win over their neighbours across any format.

India, however, dished out an improved performance with leftarm spinner Ekta Bisht (2/20) snapping two wickets and effecting two run-outs, while Jhulan Goswami (1/20), Anuja Patil (1/19) and Poonam Yadav (1/23) taking one wicket each to restrict Sri Lanka to 107 for 7.

India then rode on some useful contributions by the top and middle order to overhaul the target, reaching 110 for 3 with seven balls to spare.

Chasing 108 for a win, openers Mithali Raj (23) and S Mandhana (12) got good starts before they were sent back to the pavilion with India at 55 for two in 11.2 overs.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur then cracked a 25-ball 24 laced with two fours before India were reduced to 70 for 3.

Veda Krishnamurthy (29) and Anuja Patil (19) then shared a 40-run unbeaten partnership off 32 balls to take India home.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka: 107/7 in 20 overs (H Perera 46; E Bisht 2/20) vs India 110/3 in 18.5 overs (V Krishnamurthy 29; O Ranasinghe 1/15).