India opened its campaign at the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier, which commenced here on Tuesday, in style as it produced a collective batting performance to thrash Sri Lanka by 114 runs.
India piled up runs after electing to bat and posted 259 for four. In reply, Sri Lanka managed only 145 for eight in 50 overs in a Group ‘A’ match.
India rode on a superb show by Devika Vaidya, who top-scored with 89, and opener Deepti Sharma (54), before skipper Mithali Raj also chipped in with an unbeaten 70.
After getting off to a slow start, reaching 11 for one in seven overs, the left-handed pair of Devika and Deepti took control and put India on the road to a big score.
The two 19-year-olds added 123 runs for the second wicket. Devika, whose hit 11 fours during her 103-ball knock in only her second ODI, was declared the player-of-the-match.
Deepti smashed four boundaries and a six during her 96-ball innings.
Mithali then scored an unbeaten 70 off 62 deliveries for her 41st ODI half-century.
For Sri Lanka, Hasini Perera (34) and Chamari Athapaththu (30) were the only ones to get notable scores.
In other matches, South Africa beat Pakistan by 63 runs while Bangladesh thumped Papua New Guinea by 118 runs and Ireland defeated Zimbabwe by 119 runs.
The scores: India 259 for four in 50 overs (Devika Vaidya 89, Mithali Raj 70 n.o., Deepti Sharma 54, Udeshika Prabodhani two for 56) bt Sri Lanka 145 for eight in 50 overs (Hasini Perera 34, Chamara Athapaththu 30) . — PTI
