(Cricket news) India defeated Sri Lanka by 34 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the T20I series. Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat first while naming a surprising playing XI. Poonam Yadav, Yastika Bhatia and Meghna Singh were all left on the bench while India played with 2 left arm spinners. The decision in the end proved to be right as India won comfortably. Jemimah Rodrigues on her return to the side was named the Player of the Match.

Batting first, India could only manage 138/6 in 20 overs. The visitors kept on losing wickets at regular intervals which didn't allow the run rate to climb up. Shafali Verma got off to a good start but was dismissed after scoring a run a ball 31. Harmanpreet Kaur was dropped twice but in the end was trapped in front on 22. Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma produced some late fireworks to get India to a defendable total. Rodrigues returned to the international scene after being dropped just before the World Cup. The batter scored 36 off 27, hitting 3 fours and a six. Rodrigues batted at number 5 which isn't her best position as her preference would be to open. She was her usual elegant self as she penetrated the gaps and hit a couple of good cut shots. Deepti Sharma who batted at number 8 scored 17 off just 8 balls including 3 boundaries.

Chasing 139 runs, Sri Lanka never looked on the right track. At the end of the 20 overs, the home side were just 104/5. Kavisha Dilhari was the highest run scorer as she scored 47 off 49. Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar got a wicket each while Radha Yadav got two scalps. Shafali Verma bowled two overs and picked up a wicket which gives India another decent bowling option. The fielding was the big difference between the two sides. Sri Lanka had far too many misfields while India were clinical as Deepti Sharma took an incredible catch to dismiss Harshitha Madavi. India's fielding has really let them down in the past and this game is a good sign for the future.

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