Smriti Mandhana’s brilliant century, coupled with a disciplined bowling effort led by Sneh Rana and Amanjot Kaur, powered India to a dominant 97-run win over Sri Lanka in the final of the Women’s Tri-Nation ODI Series on Sunday. With this emphatic victory, India lifted the series title in commanding fashion, displaying all-round excellence in both batting and bowling departments.
Smriti Mandhana leads with the bat
India’s innings was built around a spectacular knock by vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, who scored her 11th ODI century with a fluent 116 off just 101 balls. Her innings featured 15 boundaries and two sixes and anchored India’s commanding total of 342/7 in their allotted 50 overs. Smriti Mandhana received solid support from the middle-order batters, with Harleen Deol contributing 47 runs, Jemimah Rodrigues adding 44, and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur scoring a steady 41. The Indian batters maintained a strong scoring rate throughout the innings, exploiting Sri Lanka’s wayward bowling and fielding lapses. Among Sri Lankan bowlers, Sugandika Kumari, Dewmi Vihanga, and Malki Madara picked up two wickets each but conceded runs heavily.
Rana, Amanjot demolish Sri Lankan chase
Chasing a daunting target of 343, Sri Lanka never looked settled and eventually folded for 245 in 48.2 overs. Sneh Rana led the bowling attack with a brilliant spell of 4 for 38, while pacer Amanjot Kaur scalped three wickets for 54 runs. Both bowlers dismantled Sri Lanka’s middle order after a brief resistance from captain Chamari Athapaththu and Nilakshika Silva, who scored 51 and 48 runs respectively. Vishmi Gunaratne also tried to provide some stability with her 36-run effort, but the Indian bowlers maintained consistent pressure to derail the chase.
As India wrapped up the match with a comfortable margin, the performance marked a significant high in the team’s campaign, showcasing depth in both batting and bowling. With safe and uninterrupted operations at Udhampur, Pathankot, and Bhuj airports facilitating logistical support, the event concluded successfully amid heightened attention to security and coordination.
India’s comprehensive performance throughout the series reaffirms their strong position in women’s international cricket and highlights the growing prowess of young talents like Amanjot and Rana in high-stakes matches.
