India register their biggest win in the Women's T20 World Cup as Harmanpreet and Mandhana defeat Sri Lanka

India recorded their biggest win in the history of the Women's T20 World Cup, beating Sri Lanka by 82 runs to bolster their ambitions of a place in the semi-finals of the ongoing tournament. This win moved them to second place in Group A with a better net run rate than New Zealand. India's final group game is against Australia; If they can beat the reigning world champions they are almost guaranteed a place in the semi-finals, but if they lose they will have to hope New Zealand crash out to either Sri Lanka or Pakistan.

On Wednesday, Smriti Mandhana (50) and Shafali Verma (43) set the tone by scoring 98 for the first wicket and despite losing several balls in a row, a thunderous 52 from Harmanpreet Kaur took India to 172 for in Dubai three.

India mercilessly defended their highest total of the tournament, knocking Sri Lanka out of the tournament with 90 points after the Lions' third consecutive defeat saw them exit the group stage.

After India opted to bat, Verma took on the role of early aggressor and in the process reached 2,000 T20I runs, becoming the youngest player to reach the milestone.

Opening partner Mandhana soon joined the party and hit the first six of the game on the last ball of the seventh over to bring up the 50-run partnership.

Mandhana then threatened to steal the show by taking Verma to the offside with a couple of beautiful lofted boundaries before adding to her 50 from just 36 balls.

But just when India seemed to be on their way to a confident total, the innings was brought to a halt by a quick double strike from Sri Lanka.

Just two balls after passing 50, Mandhana was thrown out by Ama Kanchana while trying to score a single and suffered a slight hesitation at mid-off.

Verma released the next ball and the top edge ended up in the hands of Vishmi Gunaratne off the bowling of Chamari Athapaththu.

That brought two new batsmen into the fold in Jemimah Rodrigues and Kaur, both of whom were given a reprieve as they looked to reassert India's dominance.

Rodrigues was dismissed for 16 as he was not in a position to concede having been dropped just an over earlier, but Kaur took full advantage after being given a second life by Inoka Ranaweera on the 22nd had received.

The Indian captain made her 13th and fastest T20I half-century to 52 in just 27 balls, hitting a four off the last ball to end India's innings in style.

The Indian bowlers supported the batters with a solid show

Sri Lanka's hopes of a shocking comeback were dashed on the second ball when Radha Yadav took a stunning catch to dismiss Gunaratne.

Athapaththu followed in the second over and Harshitha Samarawickrama in the third as the Lions were reduced to 6 for 3.

Kavisha Dilhari (21) and wicketkeeper Anushka Sanjeewani (20) offered some resistance but Sri Lanka fell further and further behind as India's spinners wreaked havoc and the final wicket fell with one ball to spare.