The Sri Lankan women’s cricket team is touring Indian shores as part of a bilateral series. In the second T20 match, held in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday, India recorded a convincing win by seven wickets. India thus achieved a 2-0 lead in the series.
Sri Lanka Pledges a Conservative Goal
Batting first, Sri Lanka lost nine wickets and scored 128 runs in 20 overs. The bowling attack of India was under control, and they limited the scoring.
India Completes the Chase Quickly
India chased the target quite easily. They reached the target in just 11.5 overs and lost three wickets. Opening opener Shafali Verma played an important role in the successful completion of the chase. Shafali Verma scored an unbeaten 69 off 34 deliveries. During her innings, she hit 11 fours and a six. She was given the Player of the Match award.
Shafali Verma on Team Approach
- After the match, Shafali Verma said something about the preparation and mentality of the players. “The coach, Amol Muzumdar, keeps telling us that we should be prepared to take the ball if we get the opportunity to do so,” said Shafali Verma. “We do work on bowling in the nets. We also have bowlers in our side like us, Smriti Mandhana, and Jemimah
- She also clarified that “cricket requires being always prepared, as one can never predict when the team might require their services.” Adding further, “The team is working very hard, and they are focusing on every detail, especially since the Women’s T20 World Cup is going to take place next year.”
Focus on Fielding and Batting Strategy
- Shafali also talked about the improvement in fielding. She accepted that there are opportunities that were missed in the first game but the team is also working on fielding.
- While batting, she pointed out that the ball was slow at the beginning of the innings. Therefore, she relied on scoring singles. As the ball started reaching the bat, she started playing aggressive shots.
