INDvsSL: Deepti and Mithali ensure India win the 2nd ODI: If it was the combination of Smriti Mandhana and Poonam Yadav that helped Indian women win the first encounter, the Indian medium pacer, Deepti Sharma and the skipper Mithali Raj got together and helped India take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the on-going three-match ODI series.
Electing to bat, the visitors never looked comfortable. There was neither any significant individual contribution nor partnership that came to the Lankans rescue.
Helped by a rearguard action of Dilani Manodara, batting down the line, who scored a patient unbeaten 43* runs off 51 deliveries with 5 fours, the Lankans completed their quota of 50 overs with 178 runs for the loss of 9 wickets.
Deepti was instrumental in picking up the wickets of both the openers, Chamari Atapattu (11) and the wicket-keeper, Prasadani Weerakkody (37), the Lankan skipper, Shahsikala Siriwardene (19) and Lasanthi Madhushani (6). She gave away 23 runs in her spell of 9 overs.
Medium pacer Harmanpreet Kaur, and the spinners, Poonam Yadav and Rajshwari Gayakwad claimed a wicket each.
Chasing 179 for a win, openers, Smriti Mandhana and Thirush Kamini put on 67 runs in 13.2 overs for the first wicket. Mandhana, who played a key role in the first encounter, failed to register her sixth ODI half-century. She fell short by just 4 runs.
Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kumar came together at the fall of Mandhana in the 18th over and remain un-separated till the Indian score reached 148 runs. They had established a third-wicket partnership of 64 runs in 17.1 overs.
At the departure of Kaur, who scored 41 runs off 61 deliveries with 6 fours, Team India was within striking distance of victory. They just needed another 41 runs from 14.5 overs with 7 wickets in hand.
The target was easily achieved by the Indian skipper, who scored her 40th ODI half- century, in the company of Deepti Sharma. Raj remained unbeaten on 53* while Sharma remained unbeaten on 8* with one four.
The Lankan skipper tried as many as seven bowlers (including her) but it was only the left-arm spinner, Sugandika Kumari who was successful in picking up all the four Indian wickets that fell, giving away 39 runs in her spell of 10 overs.
Indians romped home, with 41 deliveries to spare, losing four wickets.
Deepti Sharma was awarded the Player of the Match.