ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: India Women vs Sri Lanka Women — Guwahati Live Updates
The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 opener in Guwahati brought a keen contest between hosts India Women and Sri Lanka Women. After a delayed start and parts of the day featuring rain interruptions, India posted a competitive 269/8 in 47 overs. Sri Lanka, chasing a revised target set by the DLS method, head into the chase needing 271 in 47 overs, and the game remains intriguingly poised as the chase unfolds under humid Guwahati conditions.
India’s innings: a late rescue after a rocky start
India opened with Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, but Mandhana fell early, leaving India 4/1 after the second over. The innings never fully caught fire at the top, and the early phase was characterized by careful rebuilding from the middle order. Harleen Deol and Harmanpreet Kaur contributed lower-risk innings as India fought to steady the ship. A pivotal moment came in the later stages when Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma anchored the late stand, providing the much-needed push towards a defendable total. Harmanpreet’s dismissal at 18:08 and the subsequent collapse of the upper order highlighted how India’s batsmen had to wrestle with a turning track and a cloudy, humid evening.
Harleen Deol top-scored near the end with a gritty 40s-plus effort, but the crowd watched as Ghosh, Rodrigues and others fell in quick succession during a phase of pressure from Sri Lanka’s bowlers. In the end, India finished 269/8 from their 47 overs, a total that gave the bowlers a platform to defend against a nuanced chase later in the evening.
Sri Lanka’s chase: early promise, but the bite of spin tests the batters
SL-W began their chase with a positive intent, testing the Indian bowling unit early. The outfield, slick after a damp moment earlier in the day, offered a touch of pace and bounce, but the real test came from India’s spin duo. The turn of the ball and the careful, disciplined lines from Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma allowed India to choke the scoring and push SL into a demanding run-rate under pressure.
Hasini Perera and Chamari Athapaththu looked to set a platform, with Athapaththu spearheading the chase at times and looking to accelerate. India’s fielding remained lively, and the bowlers struck at crucial moments: Athapaththu’s momentum was checked by a sharp breakthrough from Deepti Sharma in the middle, and Athapaththu’s dismissal proved to be a turning point as Sri Lanka slipped from the rails. Sri Lanka’s progress was spurred by a few boundaries early on, but the Indian spinners steadily tightened the screws, creating pressure and forcing misreads in the middle overs.
As per the latest updates, Sri Lanka are reeling at times, with the spinners continuing to keep a tight grip and the fielding staying alert. The game remains highly competitive, with the target of 271 looming large and the surface offering variable assistance as the evening wears on.
Weather, ground conditions, and strategic angles
The Guwahati weather has seen intermittent drizzle and humidity, contributing to a damp outfield at times. The match schedule and DLS adjustments have added another layer of strategy, pushing teams to adapt to changing conditions. The ground staff kept the surface playable, though dew in the late evening could become a factor in the second half of the chase. In such conditions, India will be relying on spin to choke the run flow while SL-W will look to pick up quick boundaries to chase down the total.
What this means for the tournament outlook
With the World Cup title still up for grabs, this fixture is an early test of India’s title-defence credentials and Sri Lanka’s ability to upset the odds. India’s bowlers, led by Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana, have shown they can apply pressure on a demanding chase. Sri Lanka’s batters will need to build partnerships and navigate the spin on offer if they hope to overhaul the target. The Guwahati crowd, though cooled by rain breaks, remains hopeful of a dramatic finish under lights, a reminder that the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 promises many such pulse-raising moments.
Key takeaways
- India posted 269/8 in 47 overs; late rescue by Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma.
- Sri Lanka chase in progress; spin-heavy India attack looks to throttle run flow.
- Weather and DLS adjustments add strategic complexity for both sides.
Stay with us for further live updates as this crucial World Cup encounter unfolds in Guwahati, with India aiming to defend a total that tests Sri Lanka’s ability to pace a high-stakes chase.
