Indian eves too good for Sri Lanka

Skipper Mithali Raj hit an unbeaten half century to guide India to a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second leg league match of the women's Asia Cup Cricket tournament in Jaipur on Monday.

With both teams having already made it to the final, the match was a dress rehearsal for title round.

Mithali smashed 68 runs in 108 balls, sealing the match with her seventh boundary, as India successfully chased the victory target in 47.2 overs.

The Indian eves scored 172 for 3 in reply to Sri Lanka's modest 171 in 49.3 overs after their captain, Shashikala Sriwardane, elected to bat.

The hosts cruised to an easy victory with openers S Paranjpe (37) and Mithali stroking freely while Anjum Chopra carried on with the good work, scoring a useful 35.

Earlier, Sri Lanka got off to a good start with fine half centuries by opener Dedunu de Silva (78) and E Loksurya (57) in the middle order.

Jhulan Goswami (2 for 17) and Thirush Kamini (2 for 9) did most of the damage for the hosts.

It was just a matter of gauging each other for both teams before the final.

Pakistan, the third team in the fray, lost all its outings.

Mithali said there was a big gap in standards of the two teams.

"Yes, there is a vast gap. But we are using this opportunity to experiment and try some combinations for the quadrangular series in February next. There we will have to face the best teams of the world," she said.

Shashikala blamed the loss on the inexperience of the team.

"All this team needs is more experience. I am satisfied with the performance of my team. We just need more experience," she said.

India, who won all three matches so far, will take on Pakistan on Tuesday in the last league match.

The final will be played on December 21.

Scorecard

Sri Lanka
D Silva run out 78
C Plgampala c Naik b Rumeli 2
S Alwis c run out 0
S Sriwardane c Chopra b Jhulan 4
S Dolawatti s Naik b Alkhadeer 2
E Loksuriya c Naik b Kamini 57
R Galhenage run out 0
I Galagedra bowled Kamini 0
Abesynghe run out 13
N Kumari bowled Jhulan 2
S Weerakoodey not out 3
Extras: (lb-1,nb-3,wd-6) 10
Total: (all out in 49.3 overs) 171

Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-9, 3-20, 4-31, 5-108, 6-113, 7-114, 8-164, 9-166

Bowling: Jhulan Goswami 7.3-2-17-2, Rumeli Dhar 5-1-11-1, S Paranjpe 6-0-28-0, N Alkhadder 9-0-53-1, Priti Dimiri 10-1-21-0, Rema Malhotra 8-0-31-0, Thirush Kamini 4-0-9-2.

India
S Paranjpe c Dolawattee b Polgampala 37
Thirush Kamini run out 6
Mithali Raj not out 68
Anjum Chopra b Loksuriya 35
Hemlata Kala not out 10
Extras: (b-1, lb-4, w-11) 16
Total: (for 3 wkts in 47.2 overs) 172

Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-75, 3-145

Bowling: S Weerakooddy 8-1-27-0, N Kumari 7-1-25-0, E Loksuriya 8-2-28-1, C Polgampala 8-1-23-1, S Sriwardhane 9-2-32-0, S Dalwis 7.2-0-32-0.