In a stunning turn of events that sent shockwaves through the Women's Cricket World Cup, Sri Lanka pulled off a spectacular 15-run victory against tournament favourites India in a match that will be remembered for its dramatic batting collapse.
A Promising Start Turns Sour
India appeared to be cruising toward victory after restricting Sri Lanka to 240-9, with the chase looking comfortable at 108-1. Smriti Mandhana was in commanding form, crafting a magnificent 85 from 93 deliveries that seemed to have set India on course for a straightforward win.
The Dramatic Turning Point
The match turned on its head in what can only be described as a catastrophic batting collapse. From their dominant position, India lost an astonishing 9 wickets for just 117 runs, crumbling to 225 all out with 11 balls remaining.
"It was like watching a different match unfold," one spectator remarked as Sri Lanka's bowlers seized control of the game.
Sri Lanka's Bowling Heroes
Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu led from the front, not only contributing 41 runs but also taking the crucial wicket of Mandhana that sparked the collapse. The bowling attack displayed remarkable discipline under pressure, with Kavisha Dilhari claiming 3-37 and Udeshika Prabodhani delivering a match-winning final spell.
What This Means for the Tournament
This unexpected result throws Group A wide open and serves as a stark reminder that in World Cup cricket, no team can be taken lightly. Sri Lanka's victory demonstrates the growing competitiveness of women's cricket globally, while India will need to regroup quickly after this devastating defeat.
The match proved that in cricket, as in life, nothing is certain until the final ball is bowled - a lesson India learned the hard way on what should have been a straightforward path to victory.
