Women in Blue win the T20 series 3-0 against Sri Lanka

It was a complete one-sided affair at Ranchi when India eves took on Sri Lanka in the third and the last T20 on Friday. Having pocketed the series already, the hosts went all guns blazing. As the World T20 is just a few days away, Mithali’s girls made the most of the series as they clinched the T20 series 3-0. Batting first, Sri Lanka could only manage 89-9 in 20 overs, with Eshani Lokusuriyage (25) and Chamari Athapaththu (21) being the top contributors with the willow. India’s spin twins Anuja Patil and Ekta Bisht were exceptional as they bowled a disciplined line and length all through their spells. Patil took two scalps giving away just 19 runs whereas Bisht picked up 3-17 in their four overs each.

Chasing 90 runs was an easy ask for the star strudded Indian batting line-up Vanitha VR (34) and Smriti Mandhana (43*) got off to a flyer with a crucial 64 run partnership in just 8.4 overs. The fall of vanitha didn’t make much of difference as Veda Krishnamurthy was good enough to take her team home with a patient knock of 13 runs off 16 balls.

India eves remained invincible to clinch the series 3-0. They would be hoping to take this form ahead of the World T20 that will be played in India in the next month.   

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka Women 89-9 in 20 overs (E Lokusuriyage 25, C Athapaththu 21; E Bisht 3-17, A Patil 2-19) lost to India Women 91-1 in 13.5 overs (Vanitha VR 34, S Mandhana 43*; C Athapaththu 1-19) by 9 wickets

Smriti Mandhana

Source:espncricinfo.com

India women seal the T20 series 2-0 against Sri Lanka

In what was supposed to be an easy run chase turned out to be a cracker of a contest between India and Sri Lanka on Wednesday in the second T20 that was played at Ranchi. Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the visitors put on board an innocuous 107-8 in 20 overs, with Dilani Manodara (27), Shashikala Siriwardena (26) and Chamari Athapaththu (22) being the major contributors. The Indian spin twins Ekta Bisht and Poonam Yadav ran through the Sri Lankan batting line-up as they picked up three wickets apiece.  

After winning their first game, the India eves were confident and had their tails up in this match. A flurry of wickets did them no good as they were stranded at 27-4 in 6.5 overs. Young Anuja Patil came in to bat when the chips were down. She did not sink into the pressure and handled the pressure-cooker situation extremely well. India captain Mithali Raj who had opened the batting was still hanging there. Patil and Raj stitched a strong partnership of 77 runs in 11 overs and set the team in a winning position. Mithali (51 not out off 52 balls) reached her half century and Anuja played a useful knock of 34 runs (33 balls). India chased down the target in 19 overs with five wickets in hand.

The last match of the series which is just of academic importance will be played on Friday at Ranchi. The hosts have taken an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three match T20 series.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka Women 107-8 in 20 overs (D Manodara 27, S Siriwardena 26; E Bisht 3-22, P Yadav 3-17) lost to India Women 108-5 in 19 overs (M Raj 51*, A Patil 34; I Ranaweera 3-10) by 5 wickets 

                                                                        Mithali Raj

               Source:espncricinfo.com

India women lead the T20 series 1-0 against Sri Lanka

India eves had an amazing outing at Ranchi when they took on Sri Lanka in the first of the three match T20 series. Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Mithali Raj-led team put up a defendable total of 130-6 in 20 overs, thanks to solid batting performances of southpaw Smriti Mandhana (35 runs off 27 balls) and India’s aggressive bat Harmanpreet Kaur (36 runs off 41 balls).  Both these players played their shots, stole singles and hit the odd-boundaries, thereby making it difficult for the visitors. A quick cameo from Anuja Patil (22 not out off 17 balls) towards the end of the innings was a cherry on the cake as she helped the hosts go past the 120-run mark. Sugandika Kumari was the pick of the bowlers as she finished off with 3-28 in her four overs.

Sri Lanka did not get off to the best of starts as the visitors were found wanting in their run chase. Both the openers were back in the dug-out inside three overs, courtesy Anuja Patil’s aggressive bowling right at the start. Dilani Manodara fought hard for her unbeaten knock of 41 runs which came in 44 balls, but could not find an able ally. Sri Lanka was restricted to 96-7 in 20 overs, thus falling short of 34 runs.

India leads the three-match series 1-0 and the second T20 will be played on Wednesday at Ranchi.

Brief Scores: India Women 130-6 in 20 overs (S Mandhana 35, H Kaur 36, A Patil 22*; S Kumari 3-28, E Lokusuriyage 2-19) beat Sri Lanka Women 96-7 in 20 overs (D Manodara 41*, S Siriwardena; A Patil3-14, D Sharma 2-23) by 34 runs

source:www.cricket.com.au

Women in Blue take an unassailable lead of 2-0 against Sri Lanka in the ODI series

Deepti Sharma had an amazing day at office as she finished off with the envious figures of 4-23 in her nine overs against Sri Lanka in the second ODI that was played on Wednesday at Ranchi. Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Sri Lanka could not make the most of it as they were reduced to a dismal 178-9 in 50 overs. DilaniManodara (43*) and PrasadaniWeerakkodi (37) were the only two batsmen who got off to good starts. India eves bowled well in tandem and were well-backed up by the fielders.

Chasing 179 was not going to be a daunting task. Southpaw SmritiMandhana who is enjoying her purple patch scored a run a ball 46 and provided a solid start to the hosts. She found an able ally in MD Thirushkamini who played well for her 26 runs. Having missed on a half century by a single run in the first ODI, skipper Mithali Raj compensated this time by striking a patient 53 off 80 balls, remaining unbeaten at the end of the innings. Harmanpreet Kaur played well for her 41 and stitched a strong partnership of 64 runs with the skipper. Sugandika Kumari was outstanding with the ball as she picked up 4-39 in 10 overs, sending back India’s top order to the hut.

Deepti Sharma was declared as the Man of the Match for her brilliant bowling performance. The hosts take on Sri Lanka for the last ODI, which is just of academic importance, on Friday at Ranchi.   

Brief scores: Sri Lanka Women 178-9 in 50 overs (P Weerakkodi 37, D Manodara 43*;D Sharma 4-23) lost to India Women 179-4 in 43.1 overs (S Mandhana 46, M Raj 53*, H Kaur 41; S Kumari 4-39) by 6 wickets

source:cricket.com.au

India eves thrash Sri Lanka in the first ODI

Riding on twin half centuries from the southpaw Smriti Mandhana (55) and middle order bat Harmanpreet Kaur (50), India put on board a defendable target of 245-6 in 50 overs against Sri Lanka in the first of three ODIs at Ranchi on Monday. A couple of cameos at the end from Jhulan Goswami (20 runs off 10 balls) and Shikha Pandey (21 runs off 14 balls) helped India cross the 200-run mark. Udeshika Prabodhani and Shashikala Siriwardena bowled well and were rewarded with two wickets apiece.

Chasing 246 runs against a relatively strong Indian bowling attack was going to be tough. Apart from the wicketkeeper-batswoman Prasadani Weerakkodi (69), none of the other Sri Lankan looked in shape. They were bundled out for a paltry 138 in 45.2 overs, losing the match by 107 runs. Poonam Yadav spun the web and grabbed 4-22 and was backed by Deepti Sharma (2-20) and Rajeshwari Gayakwad (2-31).

India and Sri Lanka play the second ODI on Wednesday at Ranchi.

Source:sports.ndtv.com

Mumbai girls thrash Gujarat to win the Women’s U-23 West Zone Championship

Mumbai girls had applied the top gear right from the start and were oozing with confidence when they faced Gujarat at Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana, Kandivli, in the last match of Inter-Zonal Women’s U-23 cricket tournament on Monday. Scoring 300 plus runs in a women’s domestic game is a rare commodity, however Mumbai, who won the toss and elected to bat first, played an all-together different cricket. They were aggressive, they were ruthless and they just tore apart the Gujarat bowling attack. The opening pair of Hemali Borwankar (116) and Jemimah Rodrigues (101) left everybody speechless, thanks to their wonderful batting performance. Both the openers scored magnificent centuries, which came in quick time as well. A few cameos towards the end and Mumbai saw itself crossing the formidable 300-run mark. The Gujarat bowlers looked listless as they had no answers for Mumbai’s blitzkrieg.

After being hammered brutally, Gujarat was low on confidence. Mumbai bowlers struck the iron when it was hot and rattled the Gujarat batting line up for a paltry 97, winning the match by a mammoth margin of 230 runs. Saima Thakore, who played her first game of the tournament, made the most of the opportunity as she picked up 4-15 in her 10 overs. Jemimah Rodrigues (3-19), Manashree Gavande (2-23) and Humaira Kazi (1-2) were the other bowlers among wickets.

Apart from their loss to Maharashtra on Saturday, Mumbai girls have looked in good touch. Having won three out of four matches, they emerged as the West Zone U-23 champions with 12 points. They have played well as a team and have certainly reaped the sweet fruits of their hard work.

Brief scores: Mumbai 327-4 in 50 overs (H Borwankar 116, J Rodrigues 101, M Joshi 45; A Patel 2-55) beat Gujarat 97 in 41.2 overs (R Chaudhari 20, H Patel 17; S Thakore 4-15, J Rodrigues 3-19, M Gavande 2-23) by 230 runs

India eves conclude the Aussie tour on a high

If the men in blue won four out of the eight matches Down Under, India eves were no less as they matched their male counterparts winning three out of six matches. After winning the T20 series 2-1, India had a rocky ODI series as they lost it 1-2, winning the last ODI on 7th Feb at Tasmania.

Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Australia put on board a defendable 231-7 in 50 overs, courtesy twin half centuries from Ellyse Perry (50) and Alex Blackwell (60). The visitors bowled well to restrict the hosts for 230 odd runs. Jhulan Goswami (1-33) led from the front and received good support from Shikha Pandey (3-50) and Rajeshwari Gayakwad (2-41). The Indians went all out for this game as they had nothing to lose. They played good positive cricket and had their tails up and swinging.

As India had scored close to 250 runs in the 2nd ODI, chasing 232 runs didn’t seem to be a daunting task. Southpaw Smriti Mandhana fresh from her maiden ODI century picked up from where she had left and cruised to yet another half century, scoring 55 runs off just 52 balls. Skipper Mithali Raj (82) played one of the best innings of her life and helped India achieve the target with ease. Harmanpreet Kaur (29) and Punam Raut (24*) chipped in as well. As we have seen all through the tournament the tremendous contributions of Aussie all-rounder Ellyse Perry, she struck once again in this match, grabbing 2-51 in her 10 overs.

Mithali Raj was declared as the Man of the Match and Ellyse Perry as the Man of the Series.

                                                              Photo source: espncricinfo