Indians inch closer to semis with Lanka win
derby — India took a giant stride towards clinching a semifinal spot with another convincing 16-run victory over Sri Lanka in a onesided ICC Women’s World Cup encounter here on Wednesday.
In another match, Australia posted 290/8 and then bowled out Pakistan for 131 to score a 159-run victory.
England women went on to rout South Africa by 68 runs. England scored 373 for five in 50 overs and restricted South Africa to 305 for nine in 50 overs
Mithali Raj and Co recorded their fourth win on the trot as India defended a respectable 232/8 by restricting the island nation to 216 for 7. The Indian eves also maintained a clean slate against their sub-continental neighbours since the 2013 World Cup, having never lost a single ODI in all meetings.
India’s battery of slow bowlers have choked the opposition time and again during the tournament so far. It was no different on the day as leg-spinner Poonam Yadav (2/23 in 10 overs) led the charge with twin blows, removing the dangerous Chamari Atapattu (25) and opener Nipuni Hansika (29).
Left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht (1/48 in 10 overs) and off-spinner Deepti Sharma (1/46 in 10 overs) were also economical.
The seasoned Jhulan Goswami (2/26 in 8 overs) was parsimonious as ever, and provided important breakthroughs too.
Dilani Manodara Surangika (61 off 75 balls) batted well but found little support at the other end.
Skipper Raj marshalled her resources well after another impactful half-century, which was largely responsible for the decent total which in the end proved a matchwinning score. — PTI