Mandhana and Verma fire as India Women race to 59 for 0 in T20 final

India Women off to a flyer after winning the toss

India Women have made a flying start to the Women's International Twenty20 final against Sri Lanka Women, reaching 59 for 0 after five overs at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Tuesday, with 15 overs still remaining in the innings.

Having won the toss and elected to bat first, the openers wasted little time in putting the Sri Lanka attack under pressure. The power couple at the top of the order both retired the strike rates in style:

Smriti Mandhana – 36 not out from 19 balls, including four sixes, with a strike rate of 189.47.
Shafali Verma – 23 not out from 11 balls, including two fours and a six, at a strike rate of 209.09.

With no wickets lost and not a single wide or no-ball conceded, India's foundation in the final could hardly be stronger.

Sri Lanka's attack toils against India's openers

Chamari Athapaththu, captaining the home side, threw the ball to three bowlers inside the first five overs, but none could find a breakthrough. Sugandika Dasanayaka bowled two overs but conceded 22 runs, while Mithali Ayodhya's two overs leaked 18. Captain Athapaththu herself conceded 19 from her single over, with India's openers finding the boundary with ease.

India Women's captain Harmanpreet Kaur and wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh lead a side also featuring Gunalan Kamalini, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud and Sree Charani. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, are captained by Athapaththu with Imesha Dulani, Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Hansima Karunaratne, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Ayodhya, Kawya Kavindi, Dasanayaka and Chamodi Praboda completing their lineup.

The match, which began at 06:00 UK time, is being officiated by Saleema Imtiaz, Shathira Jakir, Shivani Mishra, Supriya Das and Gayathri Venugopalan. All times are UK, and some content is provided by third parties and subject to change.