Sri Lanka Tri-Series ODI 2025 Final | Smriti Mandhana special helps India Women pocket title with big win over Sri Lanka Women

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ByVenkateswaran N, SportsCafe Editor

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India Women produced a clinical performance to thrash Sri Lanka Women by 97 runs in the final of the ODI tri-series 2025 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Smriti Mandhana’s scintillating century powered India to 342/7 in 50 overs before Sneh Rana’s four-fer skittled out the home side for 245.

‌Brief score: IND-W 342/7 (50) [Smriti Mandhana 116(101), Harleen Deol 47(56); Sugandika Kumari 2/59 (10)] beat SL-W 245/10 (48.2) [Chamari Athapaththu 51(66), Nilakshika Silva 48(58);  Sneh Rana 4/38(9.2), Amanjot Kaur 3/54(8)] by 97 runs.
After opting to bat first, Indian openers Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana started cautiously on a slow surface with spin being introduced from the second over itself. Once settled, the pair opened up with a six and two fours coming in the next two overs as Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu introduced left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari in the eighth over. However, India ended the first powerplay at 45/0 without the loss of any wickets. Athapaththu brought in spin from both ends immediately after the powerplay with the move almost reaping fruit but spinner Inoka Ranaweera was unfortunate as Piumi Wathsala dropped Smriti Mandhana off a straightforward chance at mid-off when the batter was on 21. The opener made full use of the reprieve and added salt to Ranaweera’s wounds with consecutive boundaries off the first two balls of her next over. The left-arm spinner finally had her first dismissal of the day as she sent back Pratika in her next over, with Wathsala making amends for her earlier miss with a wonderful diving catch, to break the 70-run opening partnership. However, Mandhana continued unabated, bringing up her fifty in 55 balls with a swept four in the 20th over. The opener scored two boundaries off medium pacer Wathsala in the 25th over after Sri Lanka slowed down proceedings with some boundary-less overs as India reached 120/1 at the halfway stage. The left-handed batter repeated the feat in the next over bowled by off-spinner Dewmi Vihanga with shots over extra cover and cow corner to move into the 80s. Meanwhile, Harleen Deol accelerated from the other end after a slow start with three boundaries in three overs and played second fiddle to the southpaw. Mandhana stepped up the gas with four consecutive boundaries off skipper Athapaththu in the 31st over with the third four bringing up her 11th century in ODIs as the opener got from 50 to 100 in just 37 balls. In a bid to further up the ante, Mandhana was caught at cover point off Vihanga while trying to go over the infield for a well-made 116 off 101 balls consisting of 15 fours and two sixes. That ended the 120-run partnership between the opener and Harleen with India in a position of strength at 190/2 in the 33rd over. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (41 off 30) and Jemimah Rodrigues (44 off 29) played entertaining cameos scoring a combined eight fours and a six as India went past 300 for the second straight game this series. Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur provided the final flourish as India amassed 90 runs from the last 10 overs to register 342/7 in 50 overs, their highest total against their neighbours and the highest by any team in this series.
With a massive total to chase, Sri Lanka started on the wrong note with medium-pacer Amanjot Kaur cleaning up opener Hasini Perera with the third ball of the innings. Number three batter Athapaththu and fellow opener Vishmi Gunaratne took up the task of shaping the chase with consecutive boundaries in Amanjot’s second and third over respectively. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, in search of another wicket, introduced spin from both ends but Vishmi greeted Sree Charani with back-to-back boundaries off her first two balls as the hosts reached 49/1 after 10 overs. With Sri Lanka slowly finding their feet, Harmanpreet brought back Amanjot in the 14th over and the move worked with the seamer castling opener Vishmi for her second wicket of the day. However, captain Athapaththu continued to find boundaries along with new batter Nilakshika Silva as the home side reached 100 in the 20th over. The Sri Lanka skipper scored a six and four off Shree Charani’s fourth and fifth overs en route to her second consecutive fifty, off 63 balls. But just as the left-handed batter was looking good for a big one, Sneh Rana, India’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament, outfoxed the advancing Athapaththu by yorking her with the score reading 121. Even after back-to-back half-century partnerships, Sri Lanka looked well behind the game with 222 runs required from the remaining 26 overs. With Shree Charani proving expensive, Harmanpreet brought Deepthi back into the attack and the off-spin duo kept the scoring under check with the home side managing just 23 runs in the next four overs. That prompted the skipper to introduce Pratika, another off-spinner into the attack. With the runs drying up against the slower bowlers, the duo of Nilakshika and Harshitha Samarawickrama decided to go after the medium pace of Amanjot. With 17 runs already taken in her last 10 balls, Harshitha tried to extend the advantage but found the fielder at point in an attempt to clear the in-field with an audacious switch hit. With the left-hander out, Charani was re-introduced and the left-arm spinner found instant success sending back new batter Vihanga who sliced an easy catch to backward point. Sneh Rana dismissed the well-set Nilakshika, who holed out at mid-off, it was three wickets in three overs for the visitors as Sri Lanka lost track of the chase. With 162 runs required from the last 15 overs and just four wickets remaining, the writing was on the wall for the home side. Though the eighth wicket pair of Anushka Sanjeewani and Sugandika added 51 off 53 balls, it only delayed the inevitable as the Sri Lankan innings ended at 245 with 10 balls to spare. Sneh and Amanjot recorded impressive spells of 4/38 and 3/54 respectively, to headline India’s clinical win in the final. Mandhana was declared Player of the Match for her sublime century (116 off 101) while Sneh won the Player of the Tournament ending as the top wicket-taker with 15 scalps.


Champions!

On fire!

India Won!

Congrats !

India beat SL!

India Won!

Player of the series!

Classic!

Champions!

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