Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur scored 44 runs, and Deepti Sharma's all-around contributions helped India Women defeat Sri Lanka Women by 4 wickets. Deepti scored an unbeaten 22 run-knock, having earlier picked three wickets, thereby helping the Indian Women's team take a 1-0 lead in the ODI series.
The Lankans won the toss and chose to bat first, but kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Opener Hasini Perera got off to a good start, contributing 37 runs, while Nilakshi de Silva top-scored for the hosts with a 43-run knock.
Sri Lanka folded for 172 runs with Deepti and Renuka Singh both registering three scalps each, and in reply, the Indian eves easily chased down the required total, thanks to a captain's knock from Harmanpreet Kaur.
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Cruising at 123 for three, India nearly made heavy weather of what seemed a comfortable run-chase after Harmanpreet departed for a well-made 44, slipping to 138 for six. But Deepti and Vastrakar ensured India emerged winners.
India bowled out Sri Lanka for 171 in 48.2 overs, and then chased down the target with 12 overs to spare. The three-match series is part of the ICC ODI Championship.
Harmanpreet took over the reins in the 50-over format after the recent retirement of long-time skipper Mithali Raj.
Seasoned off-spinner Deepti and medium-pacer Renuka Singh (3/29) were the wreckers-in-chiefs, finishing with impressive figures of 3/25 and 3/29 respectively.
With inputs from PTI
