IND W VS SL W MATCH 1

Right then, we have lift-off in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. It was a historic day at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium with 22,843 fans in attendance, a record for the highest crowd at a group-stage fixture in any Women’s World Cup. India’s next challenge takes them to Colombo, where they face arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday, 5th October. Sri Lanka also head to Colombo, where they are set to play five of their next six games, including a stretch of four in a row. First up, they take on defending champions Australia on Saturday, 4th October. On Wednesday, 1st October, we have a Trans-Tasman clash as Australia begin their title defence against New Zealand at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. The first ball will be bowled at 3 pm IST (9.30 am GMT), but do join us early for all the build-up. See you then, cheers!

Harmanpreet Kaur, India's captain, says that it wasn't an easy game. Mentions that in ICC tournaments, every game is high-pressure and important, and today was no different. Adds that they kept losing wickets, but the way Deepti and Amanjot handled the situation was just outstanding. That partnership was the turning point for them, and overall, it was a really good game for the team. Mentions that Amanjot is such a key player who can contribute with both bat and ball, and Deepti has been doing it for years. Both stepped up when it mattered most. Harleen also played well, and having that middle-order depth really helped them. On the bowling side, she says that Kranti continues to be a wicket-taking option, while Deepti and Sneh Rana are always crucial in the middle overs. Charani’s spell was refreshing to watch, too - the way she bowled with intent was impressive. As for Harleen, in the end, Harmanpreet Kaur says that she should be fine. It was just a high-pressure game, and sometimes you push a little too much early on. She should recover in time for the next match.

The captain of Sri Lanka, Chamari Athapaththu, says that they executed their plans with the ball, but the dropped catches proved costly. Opines that it is never easy when you keep losing wickets in a chase. Praises Inoka Ranaweera and Udeshika Prabodhani for the way they used their experience. Shares that she has full faith in the youngsters to deliver the way they have done in the past. Adds that they will reset their plans in terms of their batting and hopes to bounce back stronger.

Deepti Sharma is adjudged the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for her all-round match-winning performance. She reflects on her crucial partnership with Amanjot, saying that the plan was always to take it deep till the 47th-48th over, and she is glad it worked out at a stage when the team had lost back-to-back wickets. On handling pressure, she explains that she is used to these situations, having played such innings before, and stresses that the stand with Amanjot was important for the team. Speaking about her bowling, she says she enjoys it and backs her stock deliveries, focusing on bowling stump-to-stump on such wickets. Taking three wickets, she believes, came from sticking to her strengths and keeping things simple. On the bigger picture, Deepti notes that winning the first game always sets the tone in a World Cup campaign. She feels there are plenty of positives from this win and hopes the team can carry the same momentum forward through the tournament.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Having opted to bowl first, Sri Lanka removed Smriti Mandhana early to deny India the brisk start they have grown accustomed to in recent times. The Lankan new-ball attack gave nothing away, and the partnership between Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol meandered along for the most part. Inoka Ranaweera then struck like lightning in the middle phase to trigger a collapse with three wickets in one over. Chamari Athapaththu got in on the act soon after, as India tumbled from 120/2 to 124/6 in no time. The Women in Blue were in deep trouble, but Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma arrested the slide with a 103-run stand before Sneh Rana's quickfire cameo helped them reach 269. Inoka was the star with four wickets, but Sri Lanka were left to rue their missed chances, as four dropped catches loosened their grip after being firmly on top.

There wasn’t much separating the two sides as, at the end of the 34th over, India were 167/6, while Sri Lanka were actually three runs ahead with the same number of wickets down. The difference, however, lay in the batting depth. Sri Lanka needed someone to replicate the kind of role Amanjot Kaur or Deepti Sharma played for India, and their hopes were pinned on Nilakshika Silva, but once she perished, the fate of the game was effectively sealed. All six bowling options used by Harmanpreet Kaur chipped in with wickets, with Deepti Sharma claiming three, while Sneh Rana and Sree Charani picked up two apiece.

India’s innings had a couple of rain breaks, once at the end of the 10th over and again at the end of the 40th over. The game was first reduced to 48 overs per side and then to 47, setting Sri Lanka a DLS revised target of 271 to chase. The start was steady, with Chamari Athapaththu finding some early boundaries after initially struggling for timing, while Harshitha Samarawickrama played a supporting role. However, once Chamari fell, the Sri Lankan innings slowed down considerably, and boundaries became hard to come by. Many expected the ball to skid under the lights, especially with the possibility of dew, but the ball gripped, and India’s spin troika made it difficult for the Lankan batters to find the ropes.

India are up and running in the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup! After being pushed into a corner during their batting effort, Harmanpreet Kaur will be pleased with the character shown by her team. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be left wondering what could have been. They had India on the ropes at 124/6, but dropped chances proved costly, and in the chase, once Chamari Athapaththu fell, their innings hit a wall.

OUT! LBW! DONE AND DUSTED! Or is it? As Inoka Ranaweera has reviewed it straightaway. Short and around middle, Inoka prods forward to defend it, but gets beaten on the inside edge. Gets rapped on the front pad and an appeal goes up for LBW from the bowler and the keeper. The umpire raises her finger. The third umpire is called in, and there is nothing on the UltraEdge. Ball Tracking presents three reds with the ball crashing into the middle stump. India Women have defeated Sri Lanka Women by 59 runs (DLS Method) in their opener in the Women's ODI World Cup 2025.

OUT! LBW! DONE AND DUSTED! Or is it? As Inoka Ranaweera has reviewed it straightaway. Short and around middle, Inoka prods forward to defend it, but gets beaten on the inside edge. Gets rapped on the front pad and an appeal goes up for LBW from the bowler and the keeper. The umpire raises her finger. The third umpire is called in, and there is nothing on the UltraEdge. Ball Tracking presents three reds with the ball crashing into the middle stump. India Women have defeated Sri Lanka Women by 59 runs (DLS Method) in their opener in the Women's ODI World Cup 2025.

Tossed it up and around middle, defended back to the bowler.

Short and outside off, punched down to extra cover.

LEG BYES! Short and around off, Inoka Ranaweera tries to paddle it but misses. The ball brushes her thigh pad and rolls down towards deep fine leg. Two leg byes are sneaked in.

Nagging length and around off, pushed down to the right of the mid-wicket fielder, who gets across that side and cuts it off. Uh-oh! It is called a NO BALL as there were five fielders outside the inner circle. A Free-Hit is coming up...

BEATEN! Slower and shorter, and gets it to turn away, outside off, Udeshika Prabodhani lunges to defend but gets beaten past the outside edge.

Floated up, full and around off, Prabodhani tries to push but gets it off the outer half of the bat towards backward point.