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PHOTOS: Radha demolishes SL with career-best 4-23

Last updated on: February 29, 2020 12:56 IST

Shafali Verma top scores as India cruise to victory in their last Group A fixture to stay unbeaten in the women's World Cup.

Images from the match between India and Sri Lanka, in Melbourne, on Saturday.

- SCORECARD

India's Radha Yadav bowls during the ICC women's T20 World Cup match against Sri Lanka, at Junction Oval in Melbourne, on Saturday.

IMAGE: India's Radha Yadav bowls during the ICC women's T20 World Cup match against Sri Lanka, at Junction Oval in Melbourne, on Saturday. Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Spinner Radha Yadav bagged a career-best four-wicket haul as India beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in their ICC women's T20 World Cup match, in Melbourne, on Saturday.

 

The left-arm spinner ran through Sri Lanka's batting, finishing with figures of 4 for 23, including the prized scalp of skipper Chamari Atapattu.

While India topped the group with eight points, winless Sri Lanka face Bangladesh on Monday.

Shafali Verma slammed 34-ball 47 as India cruised to victory.

IMAGE: Shafali Verma slammed 34-ball 47 as India cruised to victory. Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

In reply to Sri Lanka's modest 113 for nine, India scored the required runs in 14.4 overs, Shafali Verma hitting a breezy 47 off 34 balls.

Verma smashed seven fours and a six in her knock to ensure India went into the semi-finals with an all-win record. In the process she took her tally to 161 runs in the tournament.

Opting to bat, Sri Lanka were dealt an early blow when opener Umesha Thimashini (2) tried to go for a big shot off a Deepti Sharma delivery but was caught by Rajeshwari Gayakwad in the third over.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad celebrates getting the wicket of Harshitha Madhavi.

IMAGE: Rajeshwari Gayakwad celebrates getting the wicket of Harshitha Madhavi. Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Skipper Atapattu (33), who has shone throughout the tournament, continued to attack, hitting five fours and a six. She stitched a 30-run partnership with Harshitha Madavi (12).

However, left-arm spinner Gayakwad tightened the screws in the eighth over, bowling a wicket maiden as she dismissed Madavi.

Deepti Sharma is congratulated by teammates after dismissing Umasha Thimeshani.

The introduction of Radha in the ninth over by India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur worked superbly as, immediately after hitting a six over deep-wicket, the Sri Lankan captain was caught at square leg.

Sri Lanka then suffered a batting collapse as Radha accounted for Hansima Karunaratne (7) and Hasini Perera (7) in her next over. She also dismissed wicketkeeper Anushka Sanjeewani (1).

Gayakwad had figures of 2 for 18 while while Deepti, Shikha Pandey and Poonam Yadav took one wicket each.