Guwahati, September 30, 2025: Inoka Ranaweera’s brilliant four-wicket burst rattled India, but fighting half-centuries from Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma lifted the hosts to a competitive 269-8 against Sri Lanka in the rain-curtailed ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 opener at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Asked to bat in a 47-overs-a-side contest, India lost Smriti Mandhana early before Pratika Rawal (37) and Harleen Deol (48) added 67 runs to steady the innings. However, Ranaweera turned the game on its head in the 25th over, dismissing Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (21) in quick succession to leave India reeling at 124-6.
With India under pressure, Deepti Sharma (53) and Amanjot Kaur (57) stitched together a vital 103-run stand for the seventh wicket, guiding the side to a strong finish. Their counterattack featured crisp strokeplay, including five boundaries and a six from Amanjot.
For Sri Lanka, Ranaweera starred with figures of 4-45, while Udeshika Prabodhani chipped in with two wickets.
