Jemimah Rodrigues’ Unbeaten 69 Powers India Women to Eight-Wicket Win Over Sri Lanka in First T20I

Visakhapatnam, December 22: Jemimah Rodrigues continued her fine form with the bat as India Women began their five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka Women with a convincing eight-wicket victory at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Her calm and confident unbeaten 69 ensured that India chased down a modest target with ease, taking a 1–0 lead in the series. After winning the toss, India chose to field first, a decision that proved effective as their bowlers kept Sri Lanka on a tight leash throughout the innings. Despite challenging conditions caused by heavy dew later in the evening, the Indian bowling unit showed discipline and control to restrict Sri Lanka to 121 for six in 20 overs. Sri Lanka’s innings got off to a cautious start and never really picked up pace. Captain Chamari Athapaththu, one of their most experienced batters, was dismissed early for 15 in the fourth over, which slowed the scoring rate significantly. The visitors managed only 31 runs in the powerplay, putting them under pressure from the outset. Vishmi Gunaratne top-scored for Sri Lanka with 39 runs off 43 balls, but she struggled to find boundaries and accelerate when needed. She was run out in the 18th over, a moment that summed up Sri Lanka’s night, as poor running between the wickets cost them dearly. Hasini Perera scored 20 off 23 balls, while Harshitha Samarawickrama made 21 from 23 deliveries, but neither could convert their starts into a big score. Sri Lanka crossed the 100-run mark only in the 18th over and were further hurt by three run-outs, which stalled any late momentum. India’s bowlers shared the workload effectively. Deepti Sharma was the standout performer, finishing with figures of 1 for 20 and conceding just 10 runs in her first three overs. Kranti Gaud picked up one wicket for 23 runs, while N. Shree Charani claimed one for 30. Debutant Vaishavi Sharma also impressed, bowling four tidy overs for just 16 runs without taking a wicket, showing composure beyond her years. Chasing 122 for victory, India suffered an early setback when opener Shafali Verma was dismissed for nine. However, any hopes of a Sri Lankan comeback were quickly shut down by Jemimah Rodrigues, who played with maturity and control to steady the innings. Jemimah found a reliable partner in Smriti Mandhana, and the duo added 54 runs for the second wicket. Mandhana scored 25 off 25 balls, striking four boundaries before being caught at deep extra cover off Inoka Ranaweera. During her innings, Mandhana reached an important personal milestone, becoming only the second woman to cross 4,000 runs in T20 internationals and the fastest to do so in terms of balls faced. After Mandhana’s dismissal, Jemimah continued to anchor the chase, rotating the strike well and punishing loose deliveries. She brought up her half-century off just 34 balls and remained unbeaten on 69 from 44 deliveries, hitting 10 boundaries. Her innings was a perfect mix of patience and aggression. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur joined Jemimah and played a calm supporting role, scoring 15 not out, as the pair put together an unbroken 55-run partnership for the third wicket. India reached the target in just 14.4 overs, finishing on 122 for two and sealing the win comfortably. The victory highlighted India’s all-round strength, with both batters and bowlers contributing at key moments. For Sri Lanka, the match exposed areas that need improvement, particularly in running between the wickets and building partnerships. With four matches still to play, India will look to build on this strong start, while Sri Lanka will aim to regroup quickly and come back stronger in the next game. Jemimah Rodrigues’ Unbeaten 69 Powers India Women to Eight-Wicket Win Over Sri Lanka in First T20I India Women kicked off their five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka Women with a confident eight-wicket win at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. The star of the night was Jemimah Rodrigues, who played a calm and classy unbeaten knock of 69 to guide India home with ease. After choosing to field first, India’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance to restrict Sri Lanka to 121 for six in 20 overs. Sri Lanka struggled to build momentum after losing captain Chamari Athapaththu early for 15. Vishmi Gunaratne was the top scorer with 39 off 43 balls, but the scoring rate remained slow throughout the innings. Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama got starts but could not push on, and three run-outs further hurt Sri Lanka’s chances. Deepti Sharma was the most economical bowler for India, finishing with figures of 1 for 20. Kranti Gaud and N. Shree Charani picked up a wicket each, while debutant Vaishavi Sharma impressed with four tight overs for just 16 runs. Chasing a target of 122, India lost Shafali Verma early, but Jemimah Rodrigues held the innings together with confidence and maturity. She added a steady 54-run partnership with Smriti Mandhana, who scored 25 and reached the 4,000-run mark in T20Is during her knock. Jemimah then shared an unbeaten stand with captain Harmanpreet Kaur to finish the chase in just 14.4 overs. Jemimah’s innings, filled with smart shot selection and 10 boundaries, showed her growing importance in the Indian batting line-up. With this win, India take a 1–0 lead in the series and will look to carry the momentum forward, while Sri Lanka will aim to bounce back in the next match.