Women's World Cup: It's advantage for India as they take on Sri Lanka
India's off-spinner Deepti Sharma (second from left) celebrates with skipper Mithali Raj after dismissing Pakistan's Seda Nain Fatima Abidi during their ICC Women's World Cup match in Derby on Sunday. India beat their arch-rivals by 95 runs. Pic/Getty Images
India will look to continue their winning streak when they take on Sri Lanka in a group stage match of the ICC Women's World Cup at the County Cricket ground here today.
The Indian eves have won all three of their previous matches and are currently at the top of the table with six points. Defending champions Australia is also on six points, but India have pushed them to the second spot on superior run rate.
India on a roll
India defeated hosts England by 35 runs in the opening match, thrashed the West Indies by seven wickets before outclassing arch-rivals Pakistan by 95 runs in their last match. On the other hand, Sri Lanka are virtually out of the tournament, having lost all their three matches. India enjoy a vast advantage in the head-to-head records, having won 23 of their 24 completed One-Day Internationals against Sri Lanka. They come into this game having claimed wins in 20 of their last 21 ODIs.
However, Sri Lanka will take heart from the fact that they thrashed India by 138 runs when the two sides last met in the World Cup in 2013. Indian opener Smriti Mandhana has been on the list of top run scorers this tournament and will look to give her side a good start along with Punam Raut. Mandhana has scored 198 runs in three matches with an average of 66.00. One down batter Deepti Sharma, skipper Mithali Raj and middle order batters Harmanpreet Kaur, Mona Meshram and Sushma Verma have looked in good nick and will look to maintain their good form.
Crucial role for spinners
Skipper Raj has depended heavily on spin in this tournament and spinners Ekta Bisht and Deepti Sharma will also expect to play crucial roles against Sri Lanka. Bisht and Sharma are the joint highest wicket takers in the tournament with six scalps each. Bisht was the key in India's 95-run win over Pakistan where she picked up a five-wicket haul.
Bisht's figures of 5-18 against Pakistan is the best recorded in the tournament so far. On the other hand, Sri Lanka will look to come all guns blazing against India having lost their initial matches. One down batter Chamari Athapattu has scored 232 runs in her three matches with an average of 77.33. Athapattu will be a key against India to help her side post a match winning total. Opening batters Nipuni Hansika and Chamari Polgampola will look to play a steady hand to help their side to a good start.
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