Shafali Verma’s Explosive 69* Secures Dominant IND W vs SL W T20I Victory
The Indian Women’s team continued their ruthless form at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam, clinching a commanding 7-wicket victory over Sri Lanka Women. With this win on December 23, 2025, India has taken a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series, showcasing the depth and power that recently crowned them ODI World Cup champions.
Shafali Verma played a sensational match-winning knock of 69 off 34 balls* against Sri Lanka in the 2nd T20I of the five-match series on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.
Playing at the Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, her explosive innings helped India chase down a target of 129 in just 11.5 overs, securing a dominant 7-wicket victory and a 2-0 lead in the series.
Match Highlights: India vs. Sri Lanka (2nd T20I)
- Shafali’s Stats: 69 runs (not out) from 34 deliveries.
- Boundary Count: She smashed 11 fours and 1 six, maintaining a strike rate of 202.94.
- Milestone: She reached her half-century in just 27 balls, marking her 12th T20I fifty.
- Team Performance: * Sri Lanka: 128/9 in 20 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 33; Shree Charani 2/23).
- India: 129/3 in 11.5 overs.
- Key Partnership: Shafali and Jemimah Rodrigues (26 off 15) added a quickfire 58 runs for the second wicket, helping India reach 113 runs by the 10-over mark—a new record for the team’s highest score at the halfway stage of a T20I.
Player of the Match: Unsurprisingly, Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match for her blistering performance.
Context: Chasing a target of 129, her aggressive innings helped India chase down the total in just 11.5 overs.
Result: India Women won by 7 wickets and took a 2-0 lead in the 5-match series.
Match Summary: Clinical India Outclasses Sri Lanka
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, the “Women in Blue” restricted the visitors to a modest total before chasing it down with nearly seven overs to spare.
| Match Detail | Statistics |
| Sri Lanka Score | 128/9 (20 Overs) |
| India Score | 129/3 (11.5 Overs) |
| Result | India won by 7 wickets (49 balls remaining) |
| Player of the Match | Shafali Verma (69* off 34 balls) |
First Innings: Disciplined Bowling Stifles Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka struggled to find rhythm against a disciplined Indian attack. Despite a solid start from captain Chamari Athapaththu (31) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (33), the middle order crumbled under pressure.
- Spin Dominance: Sneh Rana, replacing an unwell Deepti Sharma, was the pick of the bowlers with clinical figures of 1/11 in her 4 overs.
- Wicket Takers: Youngsters Shree Charani and Vaishnavi Sharma both claimed 2 wickets each, consistently breaking partnerships.
- Fielding Pressure: Sri Lanka’s innings was further derailed by three run-outs, highlighting India’s sharp work in the circle.
Second Innings: The “Shafali Storm”
Chasing 129, India made a statement of intent from the first ball. While Smriti Mandhana fell early for 14, Shafali Verma took the game away from Sri Lanka with a breathtaking display of power hitting.
- Rapid Half-Century: Shafali reached her 50 in just 27 balls, eventually finishing on 69 off 34 deliveries*, decorated with 8 fours and 2 sixes.
- Supporting Act: Jemimah Rodrigues played a vital cameo of 26 off 15 balls, maintaining the momentum after her match-winning performance in the first T20I.
- The Finish: India reached the target in just 11.5 overs, with Richa Ghosh scoring the winning single to seal a thumping victory.
Series Outlook: IND W vs SL W T20I
With a 2-0 cushion, India heads into the third T20I in Thiruvananthapuram with the chance to seal the series. For Sri Lanka, the challenge remains finding a way to counter India’s balanced spin attack and the explosive nature of their top order.
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