Match snapshot: India Women set 269 in Guwahati
The opening match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 in Guwahati featured India Women taking on Sri Lanka Women. After a rain-affected start, India managed 269/8 in 47 overs. The early blow of Smriti Mandhana (out for 8) briefly slowed the innings, but a composed fightback from the middle order, led by Harleen Deol and Amanjot Kaur, steadied India’s ship. Deol’s fearless stroke play in a 48-run innings and Amanjot’s measured 20s helped push the total past 250, with Deepti Sharma and a late-charge from the lower order contributing crucial runs. As the TEAMS took the field for the chase, Sri Lanka faced a tricky surface, increased by the damp outfield and the influence of spin from India’s bowlers.
Chase in progress: spin, dew, and a tricky pitch
Sri Lanka began their run-chase under pressure, with India’s spin attack immediately making an impact. Observers noted that the surface offered assistance to spin, and India’s specialists—Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma—looked set to dictate the rhythm. The commentary described a gripping phase where Sri Lanka’s top order tried to lay a foundation, but the ball began to grip more as the innings progressed. In one notable update, Sri Lanka were struggling to find a boundary for a stretch of 50 deliveries, underscoring the effectiveness of India’s tweakers on this turning track.
Key moments: breakthroughs and building pressure
The game’s pivotal moments came as India’s bowlers began to pick wickets at regular intervals. Deepti Sharma delivered a breakthrough, top-class in-wicket pressure, and Shree Charani’s accuracy earlier in the innings helped India seize the initiative. The Sri Lankan chase saw Athapaththu and Samarawickrama attempt to steady the innings, with the Tamil Nadu captain’s experience on show as she tried to keep the scoring steady under pressure. The contest also highlighted India’s strength in spin—Ranaweera’s impressive spell and Athapaththu’s plans to breach the field kept India honest, but the hosts closed the session with the advantage in the longer battle.
Weather, field and on-field tactics
The Guwahati weather provided intermittent delays and damp outfields, with several water breaks and patches of cloud cover affecting play. The DLS calculation moment during the match suggested the target for Sri Lanka had been adjusted based on rain interruptions, with SL needing 271 in 47 overs at one stage. Both teams adjusted their fields and bowling plans to counter the dew that typically complicates late-evening play in this venue. The match demonstrated Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership from the dugout and India’s willingness to deploy three spinners to choke the chase when the ball turned.
What this means for the World Cup campaign
This fixture underscored India’s defensive strengths in women’s cricket, especially with a spin-heavy bowling unit and experienced leaders in Harmanpreet and Sharma. For Sri Lanka, the chase will hinge on adapting to the Guwahati conditions, rotating the strike and handling the turn against India’s spinners. With India’s pursuit of title glory, every match in the group phase offers a test of depth and planning—an area both teams will be looking to optimize as the World Cup progresses.
Players to watch
- Harleen Deol and Amanjot Kaur for India in the middle order, providing momentum and resilience.
- Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana as the primary spin threats for India.
- Chamari Athapaththu and Hasini Perera for Sri Lanka, looking to anchor the chase and counter-attack when possible.
Bottom line
As the chase unfolds, this clash promises a gripping duel between India’s spin-heavy attack and Sri Lanka’s fight to stay ahead of the required rate. With the World Cup title still up for grabs, both teams will take the lessons from this encounter into their next fixtures. Stay tuned for live updates as the chase develops.
