India Women Make History with Biggest T20 Score, Defeat Sri Lanka by 30 Runs

Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana’s Record 162-Run Partnership Helps India Sweep 4-0 in the T20 Series

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A Historic Sunday as Records Fall

Sunday will be remembered as a golden day in Indian women’s cricket history. The India Women’s team posted their highest-ever T20 international score and defeated Sri Lanka by 30 runs in the fourth T20 match of the series. The match, held at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, saw India dominate with both bat and ball, breaking several records along the way. With this victory, India now leads the five-match T20 series 4-0.

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Toss and Early Conditions

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Atapattu won the toss and opted to bowl first. The Greenfield pitch offered good batting conditions, and India’s openers capitalized from the first ball. From the start, it was evident that India was determined to post a massive total.

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Shafali and Mandhana’s Historic Opening

India’s innings was anchored by Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, who took control of the match from the outset. During the six-over powerplay, India scored 62 runs without losing a wicket. Both batters attacked Sri Lanka’s bowlers relentlessly.

The duo put on a record 162-run opening partnership, India’s highest-ever in T20 internationals. This also broke the previous record held by themselves, cementing their dominance. The partnership set the tone and effectively decided the match in India’s favor.

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Shafali Verma’s Explosive Knock

Shafali Verma once again proved she is a match-winner. She scored 79 runs off 46 balls, playing with aggressive intent and impeccable timing. Her innings included several boundaries and sixes, keeping the scoring rate high. This was her third consecutive fifty in the series, taking her series tally past 200 runs.

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Smriti Mandhana’s Record-Breaking Day

Smriti Mandhana made her innings even more memorable by scoring 80 runs, including 11 boundaries and 3 sixes. During this innings, she reached 10,000 international runs, becoming only the fourth woman in history to achieve this milestone. Additionally, Mandhana became the highest six-hitter for India in T20 internationals, surpassing even captain Harmanpreet Kaur.

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India’s Massive Total

After the dismissals of Shafali and Mandhana, India continued to accelerate. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh contributed crucial runs in the death overs. India scored 14 runs in the final over, finishing at 221/2 in 20 overs — the highest T20 total in India Women’s history.

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Sri Lanka’s Chase of 222 Runs

Sri Lanka, chasing 222, started positively with Chamari Atapattu and Hasini Perera providing a quick start. In the first four overs, the team had already scored over 50 runs. The chase seemed competitive as Sri Lanka kept up a brisk scoring rate.

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Hasini Perera’s Contribution

Hasini Perera scored 33 runs off 20 balls, playing aggressively. However, she was dismissed by Arundhati Reddy, caught by captain Harmanpreet Kaur. This wicket proved to be a crucial turning point for India.

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Captain Atapattu’s Fifty

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Atapattu played responsibly and scored a fifty. She partnered with Imesha Dulani to take the team past the 100-run mark. Atapattu made 52 runs, marking her first fifty of the series. However, her dismissal slowed Sri Lanka’s momentum significantly.

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India’s Mid-Innings Comeback

During the middle overs, Indian bowlers regained control. Vaishnavi Sharma bowled with precision, taking key wickets and maintaining pressure. Arundhati Reddy also picked crucial wickets at the right time, restricting Sri Lanka’s scoring opportunities.

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Lower-Order Fightback

Despite losing two wickets at 129, Sri Lanka’s lower order, led by Nilakshi de Silva’s 23 runs, tried to keep the chase alive. However, the required run rate kept increasing, making the task insurmountable.

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Sri Lanka’s Best T20 Score

Sri Lanka eventually finished at 191/6, falling short by 30 runs. However, this was their highest-ever T20 international score, surpassing their previous best of 184 runs.

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Balanced Bowling by India

India’s bowlers were exceptional under pressure. Vaishnavi Sharma and Arundhati Reddy took 2 wickets each, while Sri Charani claimed one, with one batter run out. The disciplined bowling attack ensured India’s dominance from start to finish.

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India’s Series Dominance

This victory gave India a 4-0 lead in the five-match series. The first three T20s also saw India dominate in every department. Indian women showed superior skill, strategy, and composure throughout the series.

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Captaincy and Strategy

Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership, combined with the perfect balance of youth and experience, was a key factor in India’s overwhelming success. The team displayed high confidence and executed plans to perfection in every phase of the game.

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Upcoming Fifth T20

The fifth and final T20 match will also be played at Thiruvananthapuram on December 30. While India has already sealed the series, the team will aim for a clean sweep. Sri Lanka will be motivated to end the series on a high note with a victory.

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A Milestone for Indian Women’s Cricket

This win was more than just a match or series triumph; it symbolizes the growing strength and depth of Indian women’s cricket. The combination of young talents and experienced players is a promising sign for India ahead of major international tournaments.

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Conclusion

The fourth T20 at Greenfield Stadium will be remembered as one of the most remarkable performances in Indian women’s cricket. Record-breaking batting, powerful partnerships, and disciplined bowling ensured India’s dominance. Sri Lanka fought valiantly but India’s confidence, skill, and aggression proved too strong, leaving fans and cricket enthusiasts in awe of this historic victory.