Visakhapatnam: India got off to a dream start in the five-match Women’s T20I series, defeating Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the opening match in Visakhapatnam on Sunday evening. The star of the show was undoubtedly Jemimah Rodrigues, who played a brilliant unbeaten innings of 69 off just 44 balls, leading the hosts home comfortably in 14.4 overs while chasing a modest target of 122.
Sri Lanka struggled to get going at the start of the day as India produced a disciplined bowling performance that kept the visitors on the leash throughout. Their innings ended at 121 for six – a total that never seemed enough against India’s powerful batting line-up.
India’s bowlers set the tone
The Indian bowlers were on point from the first over. Their line was tight and the length was constant, giving the Sri Lankan batsmen no freedom to play their shots. Kranti Gaud, Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani shared the spoils with a wicket each, but it was the overall performance that stood out – a collective display of control and patience.
Sri Lanka’s young opener Vishmi Gunaratne showed courage with a well-composed 39 but no one apart from her could make a significant impression. The middle class buckled under the pressure and India never let things go. The visitors lacked ideas and runs and ended with a total that left their bowlers little to defend.
Jemimah steals the spotlight
India’s comeback started smoothly and with Rodrigues in such good form, there was little doubt about the outcome. She played confidently from the start, controlled the ball perfectly and found gaps almost at will. Her late cuts and drives pierced the field like threads through a needle, giving the impression that she had the answer to every delivery.
Speaking after naming Player of the gameJemimah said her approach was all about enjoying her good form and staying in the moment. “Why waste form? That was my attitude.” she laughed. “When the runs come, I just want to capitalize on them. I had good contact with the ball and my plan was simple: react to the ball.”
She also praised Sri Lanka’s rising star Gimhani and said the video analysts highlighted her potential. “She is very good and will do well for them. I just reacted to her bowling and focused on putting the ball over the fielders.” Jemimah added.
Skipper Harmanpreet calls for sharper fielding
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised her side’s all-round performance but admitted there was still room for improvement. “We did well with bat and ball. But our fielding still needs work. I don’t know why we keep dropping catches. The conditions were a bit wet but that’s no excuse.” she said.
Kaur also explained the decision to bowl first after a short break from international cricket. “We didn’t want to challenge ourselves unnecessarily. It was about getting back into our rhythm and showing a better approach.” she remarked.
Athapaththu is hoping for a turnaround
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu was candid about her assessment of the team’s performance. “A total of 120 is not enough. We made too many mistakes in the middle overs and played too defensively. We need to take more responsibility, myself included, and play positive cricket from the next game onwards.” she said.
Athapaththu also acknowledged that her team needed to adapt to the conditions quicker. “We can’t keep blaming the dew. These are the conditions we have to play in. What matters is how we react.” she emphasized.
With India taking a 1-0 lead in the series, all eyes now turn to the second T20I. If Rodrigues continues her outstanding form and India strengthens their field, the hosts will be difficult to beat. But Sri Lanka, keen to make amends, is sure to hit back.
