India women beat Lanka, keep final chances alive

Kuala Lumpur, June 7: Outclassed in their last game by Bangladesh, India today bounced back with an improved all- round show to notch up a sevenwicket win over Sri Lanka and keep alive their hopes for a final berth in the Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup here.

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

India, however, dished out an improved performance on Thursday with left- arm spinner Ekta Bisht ( 2/ 20) snapping up 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/ 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 Smriti Mandhana ( 12) got good starts before they were sent back to the pavilion with India at 55/ 2 in 11.2 overs.

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

Veda Krishnamurthy ( 29) and Anuja Patil ( 19) then shared a 40- run unbeaten

partnership off 32 balls to take India home. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh currently have six points each from four games. But, India are leading the standings with a net run- rate of + 2.709. Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. will have to beat arch- rivals Pakistan in their must- win last game on Saturday to make it to the finals.

Earlier, skipper Shashikala Siriwardene’s decision to bat first backfired as they lost wickets in regular intervals to post 107/ 7. Hasini Perera ( 46 off 43 balls) did the bulk of scoring for the Lankans with the help of four boundaries, while opener Yasoda Mendis hit a patient 39- ball 27 but none of the other batswomen could reach double figures. On Saturday, India play Pakistan while Bangaldesh face Malaysia.

Scores: Sri Lanka 107/ 7 in 20 overs ( Hasini Perera 46, Ekta Bisht 2/ 20) lost to India 110/ 3 in 18.5 overs ( Veda Krishnamurthy 29, Oshadi Ranasinghe 1/ 15).