Shafali’s Stellar Knock Seals India’s T20I Victory Over Sri Lanka

India secured a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series. The match was notable not only for the win but also for Sree Charani’s quiet redemption. After struggling in the first game, Charani made a strong comeback by taking two crucial catches that curtailed Sri Lanka’s middle-order resistance. Her efforts helped Vaishnavi Sharma, who was making her debut, claim her first international wicket.

Despite learning from previous mistakes, Sri Lanka’s batting faltered again, collapsing to 128/9 with a loss of five wickets for just 19 runs. Chamari Athapaththu, after an early chance was missed by Charani, fought back briefly with a 72-meter six off Arundhati Reddy. However, her aggressive innings was cut short by Amanjot Kaur’s catch at long-off.

Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama attempted to maintain momentum, with Harshitha hitting three consecutive boundaries off Vaishnavi. However, Kranti Gaud’s reintroduction into the attack slowed the run rate significantly, allowing India to regain control. Charani later dismissed Hasini with a skillful caught-and-bowled, and Harshitha was run out despite a well-timed dive.

India’s chase was seamless, with Shafali Verma anchoring the innings with a dazzling half-century, her 12th in T20I cricket. Despite the early loss of Smriti Mandhana, the Indian batsmen remained untroubled, amassing 48 runs in a mere three overs against the usually domineering Inoka Ranaweera and Chamari. Shafali’s composed performance ensured the chase was completed comfortably with 49 balls to spare.

Chamari’s sportsmanship in congratulating Shafali and the excitement of the victory provided a fitting close to a chilly evening on the East Coast. The match was published on December 23, 2025.