India Women created history in Women’s ODI last Monday (4th July) after chasing the highest WODI total without losing a wicket. They have recorded the biggest WODI 10-wicket victory with the highest successful chase.
It was the second game of the three-match WODI series between the hosts Sri Lanka Women and visitors India Women, which is also a part of the ICC Women's Championship 2022-2025. After winning the recently concluded WT20I bilateral series in this tour, India Women won the first game of this WODI series by four wickets.
Just like the opening game of this WODI series, Pallekele also hosted the second WODI. While India Women captain Harmanpreet Kaur chose to field first after winning the toss, they bowled out the hosts for 173 runs in 50 overs. Lower-order batter Ama Kanchana scored 47 not out off 83 balls, while Nilakshi de Silva (32) was the other to score 30+ runs in that innings.
Among the visiting bowlers, the right-arm medium-fast bowler Renuka Singh bagged four wickets and finished that game with the bowling figures of 10-1-28-4. She won the Player of the Match award as the visitors comfortably chased down that target.
Chasing down the 174 runs target, Indian openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana both comfortably helped the visitors reach the target in 25.4 overs without losing any wicket. While Verma scored the run-a-ball 71 not out (4 fours and only six), Mandhana just missed her century by remaining not out on 94 off 83 balls (11 fours and only six).
With this win, the visitors have got the unassailable 2-0 lead in this WODI series with one to go.
India Women broke an almost 25-year-old record and also equalled Australia Women’s record
It was the highest successful chase in WODI history without losing any wicket. The previous record was successfully chasing the 164 runs target by Australia Women (167/0 in 28.5 overs) against South Africa Women at Bengaluru on 12th December 1997.
While it was the 38th time 10-wicket victory in WODI history, India Women have recorded it ninth time (fifth time against Sri Lanka). With their latest one, India Women also managed to equal Australia Women’s record of most 10-wicket win in WODI history as both have recorded it nine times.
