Who won India Women vs Sri Lanka Women 4th T20I today? — Match result & turning points
India Women put on another dominant performance to defeat Sri Lanka Women by 30 runs in the fourth T20I at Thiruvananthapuram, extending their run in the series. Asked to bat first, India came out all guns blazing as Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma put on a solid opening stand. The duo dismantled the Sri Lankan attack, racing past 160 inside 16 overs. Mandhana’s 80 off 48 balls and Shafali’s 79 off 46 put on a great platform before Richa Ghosh provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 40 from just 16 deliveries, lifting India to 221/2.
Chasing a big target, Sri Lanka showed good fight. Hasini Perera and Chamari Athapaththu attacked from the start, bringing up 50 inside four overs and keeping the contest alive. Athapaththu’s 52 anchored the chase, with useful contributions from Imesha Dulani and Nilakshika Silva. However, regular breakthroughs from Vaishnavi Sharma, who ended with 2 for 24, halted the momentum. Despite a strong effort, Sri Lanka finished on 191/6, as India sealed a well-earned 30-run victory.
Top batting performance of the match — Smriti Mandhana
India’s vice captain Smriti Mandhana delivered a brilliant knock to help the hosts post 221/2. Her 80 off 48 balls was laced by 11 boundaries and three sixes. Coming into the match needing 27 runs for the 10000-run milestone, Mandhana reached it with a single in the seventh over, becoming only the second Indian after Mithali Raj and the fourth woman overall to achieve the feat. She also became the fastest to 10,000 runs, getting there in just 281 innings. Opening alongside Shafali Verma, Mandhana initially played second fiddle before smashing the opposition bowlers after the powerplay. Her 162-run stand with Shafali became India’s highest T20I partnership.
Top Bowling performance of the match – Vaishnavi Sharma
Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma was the best bowler in the clash. The youngster finished with figures of 2 for 24 in her four overs, consistently putting pressure on the opposition batters. Her biggest moment came when she dismissed Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, who was anchoring the innings with a fifty. Vaishnavi smartly held her length back as Athapaththu charged down the track, forcing a mistimed shot that was safely caught by Smriti Mandhana at long-off. She later added a second wicket by deceiving Harshitha Samarawickrama in flight, drawing her out of the crease and allowing Richa Ghosh to complete a sharp stumping.
Who won the Player of the Match?
Smriti Mandhana won the Player of the Match award. The left-handed batter scored 80 off 48 and during the process crossed the 10000 international runs mark. Her knock, along with a century stand with Shafali Verma, ensured the hosts reached a strong total.
Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved
- Sri Lanka Women’s 60/1 was their highest-ever powerplay score against India Women in WT20Is, surpassing 59/2 set in 2018.
- Hasini Perera recorded the lowest average (12.8) among batters facing 1000+ balls against full-member teams in women’s T20Is.
- Sri Lanka Women registered their first 50-plus partnership of the series in the fourth T20I.
- Chamari Athapaththu became the first Sri Lankan and eighth overall to complete 150 Women’s T20I appearances.
- India Women’s 221/2 was their highest T20I total against Sri Lanka and their fourth 200-plus score in the format.
- India smashed eight sixes, their joint third-most in a women’s T20I innings.
- India’s innings saw a dramatic surge, scoring 85/0 in the first 10 overs and 136/2 in the next 10.
- Smriti Mandhana’s 80 became the highest individual score for India Women against Sri Lanka in T20Is.
- Mandhana went past 10,000 international runs, becoming the fourth woman to reach the milestone.
- The 162-run stand between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma became India Women’s highest partnership in T20Is and their biggest against Sri Lanka.
- Mandhana and Shafali also became the leading partnership pair in women’s T20Is with 3,107 runs together.
- Smriti Mandhana registered her 32nd 50-plus score in women’s T20Is, the most by any batter.
- Mandhana and Shafali Verma recorded their fourth 100-plus opening stand, joint second-most in women’s T20Is.
- 412 runs scored by both teams is the highest match aggregate without an individual hundred in Women’s T20Is.
What is the next match?
The fifth and final T20I of the series is set to be played at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday, December 30. With today’s win, India extended their lead to 4-0.
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