India won the third match of the Women’s T20 World Cup with an impressive 82-run victory thus garnering very important points and also boosting their net run rate after successive disappointing results. With this win, India now has 4 points to its kitty leaving it ahead of Pakistan and New Zealand. Moreover, their NRR has been boosted to 0.58, slightly ahead of Pakistan’s 0.56. The Kiwis, who had managed a good win earlier in the competition against India, were now -0.050 following a heavier loss to Australia.

Win Over Sri Lanka Provides Massive NRR Boost

In India vs Sri Lanka match, Smriti Mandhana, made a mark with the bat and showed her excellence in challenging conditions with a stylish half-century. Harmanpreet Kaur ensured this was not the end, striking her first T20I half-century off just 22 balls as an almighty late surge took India to 172/3.

✨ Harmanpreet Kaur 52* (27)
✨ Smriti Mandhana 50 (38)

India’s big-name stars stood up to be counted 📝⬇️#INDvSL #T20WorldCup #WhateverItTakeshttps://t.co/Z3hlw6yQG5

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 9, 2024

Sri Lanka responded with a uneven opening as it lost three in the first three overs and never really recovered from that point onwards. It almost managed to reach 20 overs but ended all out for 90, while Arundhati Reddy and Asha Sobhana took three wickets each.

Can Team India Make It To The Semi-Final?

Still, India’s entry into the semifinals is anything but a foregone conclusion, since New Zealand and Pakistan still have two games apiece in the remaining matches, while New Zealand stands as a grave threat; they have already defeated both Australia and India, so that they would target direct victory against Pakistan and fragile Sri Lanka, which would place them at 6 points, thereby skipping India.

What India's emphatic win against Sri Lanka does to their NRR in Women's #T20WorldCup Group A 👀

Check the standings here ➡: https://t.co/Dh7rPJxxrg#INDvSL #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/R6apFO0upt

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 9, 2024

This scenario means India will need one of their Asian rivals to help by defeating New Zealand, making their upcoming clash with Australia less of a do-or-die situation. And if Pakistan beats New Zealand, India will be wishing for an Australian victory to prevent Pakistan from jumping over them in the standings.

India can avoid all this by clinching a win against Australia. If India can do so, then New Zealand would need the NRR from the remaining matches to reach India at 8 points. Though Australia is the strong favourite, India shall be keen to avoid outside result dependability altogether.

Points Table

Group A