India Women produced another commanding performance in Trivandrum to extend their lead to 4-0 in the five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. On Sunday, December 28, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side beat the visitors by 30 runs to reach their highest total in women’s T20Is, 221 for two, setting a formidable target that proved too steep for the Lankans.
Asked to bat first, India went on the attack from the first ball. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana led the charge and neutralized the Sri Lankan bowlers with a brisk 61-run power play. From there, they accelerated further to form a record partnership for the highest opening stand in Indian Women’s T20I history, surpassing their previous mark of 143 against the West Indies at Gros Islet.
SMRITI, SHAFALI THE HAMMER OF LANKA
Shafali continued her scintillating form to reach her fifty in just 30 balls while Mandhana followed on 35. During the innings, Mandhana also achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the youngest and fourth batsman after Mithali Raj, Charlotte Edwards and Suzie Bates. to reach 10,000 runs in women’s international cricket.
The duo ended up posting 162 runs for the opening wicket in 15.2 overs. However, just when they looked set to post massive individual scores, they fell in quick succession: Nimasha Meepage dismissed Shafali for 79 off 46 balls and Malsha Shehani removed Mandhan for 80 off 48 balls, which included 11 fours and three sixes.
After the innings, Richa Ghosh attacked the Sri Lankan bowlers and played an unbeaten 40 off 16 balls with four fours and three sixes. Harmanpreet Kaur supported her with 16 not out, creating an unbeaten 53-run stand to guide India past 220 with authority.
India vs Sri Lanka 4th T20I Highlights
SRI LANKA IN BRIEF
Sri Lanka started their chase with intent as Hasini Perera and Chamari Athapaththu put on 59 for the opening wicket. Perera, who had struggled to convert starts in the first three matches, looked in a much more aggressive mood, scoring a brisk 33 off 20 balls with seven boundaries.
Just when it looked like she was ready to go on, Arundhati Reddy, called into the XI in place of Kranti Gaud, provided the breakthrough by dismissing her. Imesha Dulani was promoted to number three and offered stability alongside Athapaththa, the pair adding 57 runs for the second wicket to briefly keep Sri Lanka in the hunt.
Athapaththu, who endured a quiet outing in the previous match, made amends with a smooth 34-ball fifty, hitting three fours and three sixes. However, India struck against the run of play in the 13th over when Vaishnavi Sharma left the Sri Lankan skipper to tackle Smriti Mandhan at long-on to attempt a big hit.
From there, the chase quickly unfolded. Dulani’s 29 off 28 balls could not keep up with the increasing run rate required and the Indian bowlers tightened the screws. Vaishnavi was an outstanding player, returning impressive figures of 4-0-24-2 as Sri Lanka were restricted to 191 for six – their highest total in women’s T20Is but still well short of the daunting target.
With the series already sealed, Sri Lanka will now look to avoid the embarrassment of the white when the fifth and final T20I is played in Trivandrum on December 30.
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
December 28, 2025
