Guwahati, Sep 30 (NationPress) The exceptional all-round performances from Deepti Sharma, who became the first Indian bowler to both score a fifty and achieve a three-wicket haul in a World Cup match, along with Sneh Rana and Amanjot Kaur, enabled India to bounce back from a difficult position and secure a decisive 59-run victory (DLS method) against co-hosts Sri Lanka in the inaugural match of the ICC Women's ODI World Cup on Tuesday, marking a stunning start for the hosts.

Amanjot Kaur (57) and Deepti Sharma (53) combined for a thrilling 103-run partnership, rescuing India from a challenging 124/6 before Sneh electrified the innings with her unbeaten 28 off just 15 balls, culminating in a formidable total of 269/8 in a match that faced two rain interruptions, reducing it to a 47-overs-a-side format.

The trio collectively secured six wickets, dismantling the Sri Lankan chase against a DLS readjusted target of 271. Deepti led the bowling attack with impressive figures of 3-54, while Sneh Rana shone with 2-32, and young spinner Shree Charani contributed 2-37, as India bowled Sri Lanka out for 211 in 45.4 overs, commencing their campaign on a victorious note.

Indian bowlers skillfully restricted the Sri Lankan batters, particularly during the middle overs, with Sneh Rana delivering an outstanding performance with 10-0-32-2, while Amanjot, supporting Kranti Gaud as a second seamer, took 1-37.

The Sri Lankan innings mirrored their hosts', beginning with a score of 45/1 after 9 overs, similar to India’s 43/1 in 10 overs. They appeared somewhat better placed at 140/6 compared to India’s 124/6 but failed to find additional contributors, though Nilakshika Silva made a commendable effort with a 29-ball 35, hitting four fours and a six.

However, the Sri Lankan lower-order faltered against the relentless Indian slow bowlers, led by Chamari Athapaththu (43) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (29), who formed the best partnership of 52 runs for the second wicket after the captain and Hasini Perera (14) fell to Kranti Goud.

Despite a strong bowling performance from Inoka Ranaweera (4-46), who secured three wickets in five balls, the Sri Lankan fielders faltered, dropping nearly half a dozen catches, allowing the Indian side to regain momentum.

The Sri Lankan batters struggled during the middle overs, failing to score boundaries for over 50 balls and lacking partnerships as the Indian bowlers exhibited their superiority on a pitch that offered some assistance.

India commenced their ICC Women’s ODI World Cup journey on a rollercoaster ride but finished strong, with Amanjot Kaur (57) and Deepti Sharma (53) both scoring fifties, complemented by a blazing cameo from Sneh Rana, overshadowing Inoka Ranaweera’s four-wicket haul in the rain-affected opener at Barsapara Cricket Stadium.

A stellar all-around batting display from Amanjot, Deepti, Harleen Deol (48), and Pratika Rawal (37) was capped off by Sneh Rana's explosive 15-ball 28*, leading the hosts to a challenging total of 269/8 in 47 overs, overcoming a middle-order collapse that had given Sri Lanka a brief advantage.

Initially, India’s innings started well after being invited to bat, but they faced an early blow when star opener Smriti Mandhana was dismissed for just eight runs off ten balls. Her opening partner, Pratika Rawal, along with top-order batter Harleen Deol, navigated the tense first Power-play, ending the first ten overs at 43/1.

The match was paused due to rain and resumed after an hour and a half, with each innings reduced by two overs. When play resumed, the Indian batters struggled to regain their rhythm as the rain delay disrupted their tempo.

Inoka Ranaweera seized the moment, claiming three wickets in a mere five deliveries during her 26th over, causing a dramatic collapse for the Women in Blue. Harleen Deol fell after a solid 48 off 64 balls, and Jemimah Rodrigues was dismissed for a golden duck.

India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who had just begun to find her footing, was also dismissed in the same over, marking a pivotal moment as Richa Ghosh was promoted in the batting order but soon followed her teammates back to the pavilion in the 27th over, leaving India at 124/6 and facing the risk of not even reaching 200.

It was then that the all-rounders Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur stepped up, stabilizing the innings after losing four wickets within two overs. The latter faced a couple of close calls, being dropped twice during her innings. The scoring was slow as the Indians failed to hit a boundary for over 50 balls during the middle overs.

Amanjot, in her first World Cup match, played a magnificent innings, achieving a half-century and leading the Women in Blue through a challenging phase. Vishmi Gunaratne took a brilliant catch on the boundary to dismiss Amanjot, bringing her impressive knock to a close.

Deepti and Amanjot formed a vital seventh-wicket partnership of 103 runs off 99 balls, setting the stage for the final push.

With Deepti in fine form, Sneh accelerated the innings, expertly targeting the opposition bowlers, finishing with an impressive 15-ball 28*, while Deepti concluded her innings with a run-a-ball 53.

Brief scores:

India 269/8 in 47 overs (Amanjot Kaur 57, Deepti Sharma 53, Harleen Deol 48, Sneh Rana 28*; Inoka Ranaweera 4-46, Udeshika Prabhodhani 2-55) beat Sri Lanka 211 all out in 45.4 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 43, Nilakshika Silva 35; Deepti Sharma 3-54, Sneh Rana 2-32, N Shree Charani 2-37) by 59 runs DLS method.

vi/bsk/