India Women take 4-0 lead after their highest Women's T20I total

India Women have taken a 4-0 lead after comfortably winning the fourth game of the five-match home Women’s T20I series against Sri Lanka Women. In the fourth Women’s T20I on Sunday night (December 28), India Women created new history by recording their highest WT20I total.

After Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu sent the hosts to bat first, India Women scored 221/2 in 20 overs, their highest ever WT20I total. In reply, Sri Lanka Women scored 191/6 in 20 overs, as the hosts won the fourth game by 30 runs. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Women also recorded their highest-ever WT20I total. 

Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma produced a strong start that set up India Women’s dream for their record total in Women’s T20I. Both the Indian openers scored half-centuries, as it was Shafali’s third consecutive half-century, and Smriti completed the fastest 10,000 Women’s International runs before reaching the 50-run mark. 

See Also: Former Delhi Capitals batter records joint fastest Women's T20 fifty

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma set India Women's record partnership

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma set up the 162-run partnership in 15.2 overs for the first wicket. It was the highest partnership runs for any wicket for India Women, while the previous record was 143 runs between the same partners for the first wicket against West Indies Women during the 2019 Gros Islet WT20I.

While Smriti scored 80 off 48 balls with 11 fours and three sixes, Shafali scored 79 off 46 balls with 12 fours and one six. Later, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh had a 53-run partnership in just 23 balls for the unbroken third wicket. While Kaur scored 16 not out off 10 balls (one four and one six), Richa scored 40 not out off 16 balls with four fours and three sixes. 

India Women scored 221/2 in 20 overs. It was their highest total in the Women’s T20I format. Their previous record was 217/4 against the West Indies Women at DY Patil Stadium in 2024. 

Sri Lanka Women got strong start but failed to handle required run rate pressure

In reply, Sri Lanka had a strong start with two consecutive 50+ partnerships. However, they failed to handle the huge required run rate pressure, as the hosts comfortably won the fourth WT20I. 

Hasini Perera and captain Chamari Athapaththu had a 59-run partnership in 5.3 overs for the first wicket. While Hasini was out for 33 from 20 balls (seven fours), Chamari had another 57-run partnership with Imesha Dulani for the second wicket. Skipper Chamari scored 52 off 37 balls with three fours and three sixes, while Imesha scored 29 off 28 balls with three fours. 

Later, Harshitha Samarawickrama (20 off 13 balls), Kavisha Dilhari (13 off eight balls), and Nilakshika Silva (23 not out off 11 balls) had some cameos, but those weren’t enough to chase the huge total. 

Among the Indian bowlers, Arundhati Reddy (2/42) and Vaishnavi Sharma (2/24) got two wickets each, while Shree Charani (1/46) was the other wicket-taker.