Record Mandhana-Verma stand sees India go 4-0 up

A record partnership between India's openers highlighted a dominant performance as the hosts took a 4-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma both struck sparkling half-centuries, breaking their own record for India's highest partnership in the format. After their departure, Richa Ghosh's cameo helped India post their highest total in WT20I cricket, before the bowlers sealed the win despite a spirited Sri Lankan effort.

Mandhana and Verma started aggressively in the powerplay, with boundaries flowing regularly. Verma raced to 37 off 20 balls, while Mandhana at the other end breached 10,000 runs in Women's internationals, becoming the fourth and quickest to reach the landmark. Verma continued the assault, bringing up her third successive half-century.

Shortly after her fifty, Verma launched a six, and Mandhana followed with one of her own in the next over en route to a 35-ball half-century. With India 120/0 after 12 overs, a massive total was imminent. The pair toyed with the bowling, breaking their own partnership record. However, both were dismissed within six deliveries just as they eyed centuries.

Richa Ghosh, aided by a dropped catch, then punished the visitors, hitting 6,6,4,6 in the penultimate over. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur ensured India crossed 220 for the first time in the format.

In response, Sri Lanka started strongly. Hasini Perera struck three boundaries in the first over, helping the visitors reach 29/0 after two overs. Chamari Athapaththu then got going with a six and a four, as Sri Lanka passed 50 inside four overs.

Arundhati Reddy broke the opening stand in the powerplay, but Athapaththu continued aggressively, reaching fifty. Her dismissal by Vaishnavi Sharma triggered a collapse, with Imesha Dulani run out and Vaishnavi removing Harshitha Samarawickrama. Needing 67 from the final three overs, Sri Lanka fell short by 30 runs.

Brief scores: India 221/2 (Smriti Mandhana 80, Shafali Verma 79, Richa Ghosh 40*) beat Sri Lanka 191/6 (Chamari Athapaththu 52; Vaishnavi Sharma 2/24) by 30 runs.