ICC Women's T20 World Cup: India vs Sri Lanka preview
India booked their semis berth after sealing a three-run victory over New Zealand in the ongoing ICC Women's T20 World Cup. This was India's third consecutive victory in the tournament, having defeated Australia and Bangladesh earlier. India now lead the group A with six points. The Harmanpreet-led side will lock horns with Sri Lanka in their final group fixture. Here is the match preview.
Ground, Pitch report, timing and TV listing
The match will be played at the Junction Oval. This venue in Melbourne is well known for assisting seam and swing bowling. Both bowlers and batswomen got help in the previous encounter between India and New Zealand here. The match will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network and streamed on Hotstar. The game will start at 9:30 AM IST.
India will be looking the extend their winning streak
India remain unbeaten in the tournament so far and will want to win their final game of the league stage. Smriti Mandhana made her return against New Zealand, while Richa Ghosh made way for Radha Yadav in the playing XI. The onus for a solid start will yet again be on Shafali Verma who has been brilliant thus far and her compatriot Mandhana.
A 'do or die' contest for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka haven't opened their account in the tournament, having lost the first two games. Although skipper Chamari Athapaththu is looking confident in the batting segment, the rest look bleak. Achini Kulasuriya was replaced by Umesha Thimashini against Australia after the former leaked 26 runs in 2.4 overs in the first game against New Zealand. Sri Lanka would want to script a turnaround.
Dream11: Shafali and Athapaththu will bolster your line up
India: With 114 runs in three matches, Shafali Verma is India's leading run-scorer in the tournament. To top it up, she has also struck eight sixes, more than any other batswoman overall. Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu has been in sublime touch as well as she averages 45.50 with 91 runs in two matches. Her strike rate of 133.82 is a plus.
