India Women Clinch Women’s ODI Tri-Nation Series Title with Dominant 97-Run Victory Over Sri Lanka

Colombo/Patiala, 12 May (Sports desk)

Match Overview: Women’s ODI Tri-Nation Series Final, May 11, 2025
Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Result: India Women beat Sri Lanka Women by 97 runs
Player of the Match: Smriti Mandhana
Player of the Series: Sneh Rana

India Women secured the Women’s ODI Tri-Nation Series title with a commanding 97-run victory over Sri Lanka Women in the final on May 11, 2025, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Powered by Smriti Mandhana’s sublime 11th ODI century and a clinical bowling performance led by Sneh Rana and Amanjot Kaur, India outclassed the hosts to lift the trophy in a tournament that also featured South Africa Women. This win served as a strong statement ahead of the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup.

Match Details

Toss and Team Line-ups

India Women, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, won the toss and elected to bat first, confident in their batting firepower to set a formidable total. Kranti Goud made her ODI debut for India, replacing the injured Kashvee Gautam.

India Women XI: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Goud.
Sri Lanka Women XI: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Piumi Wathsala, Nilakshika Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Dewmi Vihanga, Malki Madara, Sugandika Kumari, Inoka Ranaweera.

India Women Innings: 342/7 (50 overs)

India’s batting unit delivered a masterclass, posting a mammoth 342/7, their highest total of the tournament. The innings was anchored by vice-captain Smriti Mandhana’s brilliant 116 off 101 balls, which included 15 fours and 2 sixes. Despite battling cramps and dehydration in the Colombo heat, Mandhana’s knock was a blend of elegance and resilience, marking her 11th ODI century.

watch……Smriti Mandhana Crowned ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year

• Early Setback: India lost opener Pratika Rawal early for 30, caught at mid-on off Malki Madara, breaking a 70-run opening stand.
• Mandhana’s Dominance: Mandhana, dropped twice early in her innings, capitalized on the reprieves. She reached her fifty with a stylish sweep and later smashed three consecutive boundaries off Chamari Athapaththu to bring up her century in 92 balls. She fell for 116, caught at backward point off Dewmi Vihanga, attempting an aerial cover drive.
• Middle-Order Contributions: Harleen Deol (47 off 64) provided solid support, forging a 120-run partnership with Mandhana. Harmanpreet Kaur (41 off 42) and Jemimah Rodrigues (44 off 37) kept the momentum going with aggressive strokeplay. Amanjot Kaur’s quickfire 18 off 12 balls provided late fireworks.
• Sri Lanka’s Bowling: Sugandika Kumari (2/59), Dewmi Vihanga (2/69), and Malki Madara (2/74) were the primary wicket-takers, but Sri Lanka’s fielding lapses, including dropped catches of Mandhana, proved costly.

Key Moments:

• Mandhana’s century, completed with a hat-trick of boundaries, set the tone for India’s imposing total.
• The 120-run stand between Mandhana and Deol stabilized and accelerated the innings.
• India’s lower order ensured a strong finish, with 82 runs in the final 10 overs.

Sri Lanka Women Innings: 245 all out (48.2 overs)

Chasing a daunting 343, Sri Lanka needed a monumental effort but were bowled out for 245 in 48.2 overs, falling 97 runs short. India’s bowlers, led by Sneh Rana and Amanjot Kaur, maintained relentless pressure, exploiting Sri Lanka’s inability to build substantial partnerships.

• Early Blow: Amanjot Kaur struck in the first over, dismissing Hasini Perera for a duck, caught by Harmanpreet Kaur.
• Athapaththu and Gunaratne Resistance: Captain Chamari Athapaththu (51 off 65) and Vishmi Gunaratne (36 off 52) steadied the innings with a 68-run partnership. However, Gunaratne fell to Deepti Sharma, failing to convert her start.
• Rana’s Impact: Sneh Rana turned the game decisively, dismissing Athapaththu and Nilakshika Silva (48 off 63) in quick succession. Athapaththu was bowled attempting a big shot, while Silva fell short of a fifty. Rana’s off-spin yielded 4 wickets for 38 runs, including the final wicket of Anushka Sanjeewani (caught by Amanjot at long-on).
• Middle-Order Struggle: Harshitha Samarawickrama (26) and Nilakshika Silva added a 52-run stand, but the required rate kept climbing. Sri Lanka’s batters struggled to find boundaries, managing only sporadic resistance.
• Amanjot’s Contribution: Amanjot Kaur’s pace accounted for 3 wickets for 54 runs, including key breakthroughs that disrupted Sri Lanka’s momentum.

Key Moments:

• Rana’s four-wicket haul, including the dismissals of Athapaththu and Silva, broke Sri Lanka’s backbone.
• Sri Lanka’s inability to accelerate, with boundaries hard to come by, sealed their fate.
• The final wicket, taken by Rana, capped India’s dominant bowling display.

Post-Match Analysis

• India’s Dominance: India’s comprehensive performance underscored their status as tournament favorites. Mandhana’s century set a towering target, while Rana’s 4/38 and Kaur’s 3/54 ensured Sri Lanka never threatened the chase. The team’s batting depth and bowling variety were on full display.
• Sri Lanka’s Effort: Despite the loss, Sri Lanka showed fight, reaching their first ODI tournament final since 2009. Athapaththu and Silva’s contributions were notable, but their bowling and fielding lacked the precision needed against a rampant Indian side.
• Standout Performers:
  • Smriti Mandhana: Her 116 off 101 was the cornerstone of India’s total, earning her the Player of the Match award.
  • Sneh Rana: With 13 wickets in the series, including 4/38 in the final, she was named Player of the Series for her pivotal role with the ball.
  • Amanjot Kaur: Her 3/54 and boundary catch to dismiss Sanjeewani highlighted her emergence as a key all-rounder.
• Tournament Context: The Tri-Nation Series was a crucial preparatory event for the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup. India’s victory, despite missing key pacers, showcased their depth and adaptability.

Quotes

• Harmanpreet Kaur (India Captain): “Proud of the entire team, they really played good cricket. The way we batted today was a big positive, and Sneh Rana’s bowling was outstanding. We’ll keep working on areas like fielding and bowling to prepare for the World Cup.”
• Sneh Rana (Player of the Series): “I’m very pleased to have contributed to the team. The plan was simple—stick to off-pace and yorker deliveries, and it worked.”
• Smriti Mandhana (Player of the Match): “I just focused on assessing the conditions and batting as long as possible. The team’s support helped me push through the heat and cramps.”

Scorecard Summary

India Women: 342/7 (50 overs)

• Smriti Mandhana: 116 (101 balls, 15×4, 2×6)
• Harleen Deol: 47 (64 balls)
• Jemimah Rodrigues: 44 (37 balls)
• Harmanpreet Kaur: 41 (42 balls)
• Bowling: Sugandika Kumari 2/59, Dewmi Vihanga 2/69, Malki Madara 2/74

Sri Lanka Women: 245 all out (48.2 overs)

• Chamari Athapaththu: 51 (65 balls)
• Nilakshika Silva: 48 (63 balls)
• Vishmi Gunaratne: 36 (52 balls)
• Bowling: Sneh Rana 4/38, Amanjot Kaur 3/54, Deepti Sharma 1/57

Broadcast and Streaming

The match was not televised live in India but was available for streaming on the FanCode app and website, with global coverage on Sri Lanka Cricket’s YouTube channel.

Significance

India’s victory capped a dominant campaign, with three wins in four group-stage matches, their only loss coming against Sri Lanka in the league phase. The triumph highlighted their readiness for the upcoming ODI World Cup, with standout performances from Mandhana, Rana, and emerging talents like Amanjot Kaur. For Sri Lanka, reaching the final was a significant achievement, but they were outplayed by a superior Indian side on the big stage.