India took a giant stride towards clinching a semi-final spot with another convincing 16-run victory over Sri Lanka in a one-sided ICC Women's ODI World Cup encounter in Derby, on Wednesday.
Mithali Raj and Co recorded their fourth win on the trot as they defended a respectable 232 for eight by restricting the island nation to 216 for seven.
India's battery of slow bowlers have choked the opposition time and again during the tournament so far.
It was no different on the day as leg-spinner Poonam Yadav (2/23 in 10 overs) led the charge with twin blows, removing the dangerous Chamari Atapattu (25) and opener Nipuni Hansika (29).
Left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht (1/48 in 10 overs) and off-spinner Deepti Sharma (1/46 in 10 overs) were also economical.
The seasoned Jhulan Goswami (2/26 in 8 overs) was miserly as ever, and provided important breakthroughs too.
Dilani Manodara Surangika (61 off 75 balls) batted well but found little support at the other end.
Skipper Raj marshalled her resources well after another impactful half-century, which was largely responsible for the decent total.
The match decisively swung in India's favour when the pint-sized Poonam, coming round the wicket, got the better of Atapattu with a flighted delivery that she tried to sweep but missed the line to be bowled.
Another identical delivery saw Nipuni make a big stride forward for a slog sweep only to be stumped by Sushma Verma. The Lankan innings never had the momentum and only one team could have won from that situation despite a gallant effort from Surangika.
Earlier, Deepti Sharma and skipper Mithali Raj hit fine half-centuries to help India post a decent 232 for eight in their 50 overs.
Deepti made 78 off 110 balls while Mithali continued her good form as she hit 53 off 78 to rally India after the early dismissal of openers Punam Raut (16) and Smriti Mandhana (8).
Middle-order batters Veda Krishnamurthy (29) and Harmanpreet Kaur (20) stitched crucial 50 runs in just nine overs to help India get past the 230-run mark.
Electing to bat, India didn't have the best of starts as Mandhana departed early. She was soon followed by Raut in the 11th over.
Captain Mithali and Deepti resurrected India's innings as they shared vital 118 runs for the third wicket to not only steady India's innings but create the perfect launchpad for others to follow.
But just when it was time for the Indian eves to launch the attack on Sri Lankan bowlers claimed three quick wickets to check their progress.
After the dismissal of Deepti in the 37th over, Jhulan Goswami (9), who was promoted up the order, and Mithali fell off sucessive deliveries in the 39th over bowled by Inoka Ranaweera.
But Veda and Harmanpreet took the onus upon themselves to keep up the ante before both also perished off successive deliveries in the penultimate over bowled by Sripali Weerakkody.
The Indian batters managed a decent 62 runs off the last 10 overs to push their team towards a competitive total.
For Sri Lanka, Weerakkody (3/28) was the pick of the bowlers while Inoka Ranaweera (2/55) also returned with two crucial wickets.
