DUBAI, October 11 — The Indian Women's National Cricket Team on Sunday registered its largest margin of victory in Women's T20 World Cup history, routing reigning Asian champions Sri Lanka by 82 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to surge into second place in Group A with a commanding Net Run Rate (NRR) boost.
Electing to bat first, openers Smriti Mandhana (50 off 38 balls) and Shafali Verma laid a brisk 98-run foundation before skipper Harmanpreet Kaur blasted an unbeaten 52 off just 27 deliveries, propelling India to 172 for 3 in 20 overs—India's highest-ever total in a Women's T20 World Cup fixture. In response, pace bowler Arundhati Reddy (3 for 19) and leg-spinner Asha Sobhana (3 for 19) dismantled the Sri Lankan chase, bundling them out for 90 in 19.5 overs.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur was adjudged Player of the Match for her explosive finishing cameo. The comprehensive win sets up a decisive final group-stage clash against defending champions Australia in Sharjah for a direct berth in the knockout semifinals.
International Cricket Council governance (ICC founded in 1909, headquartered in Dubai, UAE), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI founded in 1928, headquartered at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai), historical statistics of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup (inaugurated in 2009 in England; Australia holding a record six titles), and the BCCI’s landmark pay equity policy granting identical central match fees to men and women internationals are frequent topics in SSC, Banking, and Railway general awareness examinations.