India And Sri Lanka Women Win Warm-Up Matches On Day One Of ICC Women’s World Twenty20 India 2016
Mandhana fashions India’s 29-run win over Ireland, while Ranasinghe stars in Sri Lanka’s victory over Bangladesh
Host India warmed-up for the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 India 2016 with a 29-run win over Ireland in a warm-up match in Bengaluru on Thursday, while Sri Lanka brushed aside Bangladesh by five wickets.
Smriti Mandhana, a 19-year-old left-hander from Mumbai, hit an unbeaten 73 off 52 balls to lift India to 147 for four after home team captain Mithali Raj won the toss and elected to bat.
Mandhana, who hit 10 boundaries and a six, put on 72 for the third wicket with Harmanpreet Kaur (24) after wickets off successive deliveries by Kim Garth had reduced India to 16 for two in the third over.
Ireland managed only 118 for nine in reply with Cath Delton making 37 off 30 balls and skipper Isobel Joyce chipping in with 28.
India medium fast bowlers Shikha Pandey and Niranjan Nagarajan picked up two wickets each.
In another match under lights in Bengaluru, Sri Lanka skittled Bangladesh for 95 with one ball to spare after electing to field and then surpassed the modest target in 18.1 overs.
Nigar Sultana played a lone hand for Bangladesh with 33 as seamer Oshadi Ranasinghe claimed three wickets for 14 runs and Eshani Lokusuriyage took two for 17).
Sri Lanka was coasting at 49 for one when Bangladesh fought back with three wickets in the space of eight runs, but Ranasinghe and Lokusuriyage teamed up again to steer their side home.
Ranasinghe returned unbeaten on 18 and Lokusuriyage made 16 not out after leg-spinner Rumana Ahmed claimed three wickets for nine runs in four overs.
Three-time defending champion Australia has been drawn alongside Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka in Group A of the 10-nation event which opens on 15 March.
Group B comprises Bangladesh, England, India, Pakistan and West Indies, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.
Summarised scores:
India beat Ireland by 29 runs in Bengaluru
India 147-5, 20 overs (Smirit Mandhana 73 not out, Harmanpreet Kaur 24; Kim Garth 3-16)
Ireland 118-9, 20 overs (Cath Dalton 37, Isobel Joyce 28; Shikha Pandey 2-22, Niranjan Nagarajan 2-17)
Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by five wickets in Bengaluru
Bangladesh 95 all out, 19.5 overs (Nigar Sultana 33; Oshadi Ranasinghe 3-14, Eshani Lokusuriyage 2-17)
Sri Lanka 97-5, 18.1 overs (Oshadi Ranasinghe 18 not out, Lokusuriyage 16 not out; Rumana Ahmed 3-9)
