Thiruvananthapuram witnessed a masterclass in aggressive yet precise batting as the Indian Women’s Cricket team continued their undisputed dominance over Sri Lanka. In the fourth match of the T20I series, India secured a decisive 30-run victory, taking a commanding 4-0 lead. This win was not merely statistical; it was a festival of records, highlighted by an explosive opening partnership and a historic individual milestone.
The Batting Clinic: Records Tumble at Greenfield Stadium
Having been asked to bat first—a welcome change after chasing in the previous three games—India’s openers, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, treated the Sri Lankan attack with cold technical efficiency. The duo unleashed an exhibition of placement and power, setting the platform for India’s highest Women’s T20I total ever: a staggering 221 for two.
The core of this monumental effort was the 162-run partnership between Mandhana (80) and Verma (79). This alliance officially stands as the best partnership for any wicket in the history of Indian Women`s T20 Internationals, surpassing their own previous record set back in 2019. It was a demonstration of contrasting styles merging seamlessly: Mandhana’s crisp drives and on-side power complementing Verma’s fearless boundary-hitting.
For Smriti Mandhana, the innings carried extra historical weight. She became only the fourth batter globally—following the footsteps of compatriots like Mithali Raj and international legends like Suzie Bates—to breach the formidable 10,000-run mark across all international formats. A professional benchmark achieved amid a torrent of team records.
Shafali Verma, meanwhile, continued her red-hot run, notching her third consecutive half-century in the series. Although she narrowly missed a maiden T20I century, her 79 off 46 balls, laced with twelve fours and a six, ensured the bowlers were always chasing the game. Her aggressive strike over the bowler`s head early in the innings signaled India`s intent: maximum damage, minimum time.
The Final Blow: Richa Ghosh’s Calculated Carnage
Even after the openers departed in quick succession, the scoring rate refused to dip. Stepping into the breach, Richa Ghosh delivered a brutal finish. Her unbeaten 40 runs came off just 16 balls, featuring four fours and three sixes. Ghosh, alongside skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (16* off 9), added 53 runs for the third wicket, ensuring that the target set for Sri Lanka was not just high, but virtually insurmountable.
The Valiant Chase: Aggression Meets Arithmetic
Chasing 222 requires both courage and a suspension of disbelief. Sri Lanka started their pursuit with impressive aggression. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu (52 off 37 balls) and Hasini Perera (33 off 20 balls) provided early fireworks, racking up a 59-run opening stand that momentarily offered a glimmer of hope. Athapaththu, in particular, displayed her customary array of power strokes, keeping the required run rate within theoretical reach.
However, the arithmetic of the target soon proved a more formidable opponent than the bowling attack itself. As the run rate kept spiraling steeply, Sri Lanka’s dependency on sustained aggression led to critical errors.
The Silent Assassin: Vaishnavi Sharma’s Tactical Pressure
In a contest where every boundary was expected, the true difference often lies in defensive strategy. India’s young spinner, Vaishnavi Sharma, exemplified this tactical pressure. While the pitch was unforgiving to errors in line, Vaishnavi delivered an impressive spell of 4-0-24-2. Crucially, she exerted relentless control, bowling nine dot balls—a priceless commodity in a high-octane run chase. Her dismissals included the dangerous Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama (20), systematically throttling Sri Lanka`s momentum. Arundhati Reddy also chipped in with vital wickets, including the dismissal of Perera, further destabilizing the chase.
Ultimately, Sri Lanka finished their 20 overs at 191 for six. While a commendable total on its own, it fell 30 runs short of the mountain India had constructed. The clinical nature of India’s victory—built first on historic batting records and then cemented by strategic bowling control—solidifies their status as the dominant force in the series. The fifth and final T20I now remains a formality, a final opportunity for Sri Lanka to halt the Indian juggernaut.
