Team India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series, highlighting their seamless transition to T20I glory after the World Cup. The series continues in Visakhapatnam before moving to Thiruvananthapuram. India’s Jemimah Rodrigues plays a shot during the first Women’s T20I cricket match between India and Sri Lanka, in Visakhapatnam.(PTI) India’s women’s cricket team kicked off their five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka with a dominant eight-wicket win in Visakhapatnam on Sunday (Dec 21). The hosts, fresh from their historic World Cup win, displayed disciplined bowling and clinical batting to restrict Sri Lanka to 121/6 before chasing down the target in just 14.4 overs. Disciplined bowling sets the tone. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and chose to field first on a batting friendly pitch which was later affected by dew. The Indian bowlers maintained tight lines, preventing Sri Lanka from building momentum. Debutant Vaishnavi Sharma impressed with her economy conceding just 16 runs in four overs without a wicket. Deepti Sharma started with a girl and ended with 1/20. Kranti Gaud picked up her first T20I wicket by dismissing Chamari Athapaththu for 15 early. Vishmi Gunaratne top scored for Sri Lanka with 39 off 43 balls, while Hasini Perera (20) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (21) offered brief resistance. A bouncer from Amanjot Kaur hit Samarawickrama’s helmet but she continued after investigations. Late impetus helped Sri Lanka reach 121/6. Smriti Mandhana’s historic milestone After 122, India lost Shafali Verma early for 9, brilliantly caught at square. However, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues steadied the ship with a partnership of 54 runs. Mandhana, who played a run-a-ball 25, became the first Indian woman and second overall to reach 4,000 T20I runs. She quickly achieved this landmark and broke records for the fastest in terms of balls faced. Her innings ended soon after, caught by Inoka Ranaweera. Jemimah Rodrigues leads the chase. Jemimah Rodrigues took charge by building an unbeaten 55-run stand with captain Harmanpreet Kaur. She showed technical precision and reached her half-century off 34 balls with elegant boundaries. She finished unbeaten on 69 off 44 deliveries, guiding India home with 32 balls to spare. Kaur supported well, rotating strike and surviving an early LBW appeal. This win gives India a 1-0 lead, highlighting their seamless transition to T20I glory after the World Cup. The series continues in Visakhapatnam before moving to Thiruvananthapuram. Key performances and short scores Player of the Match: Jemimah Rodrigues for her match-winning knock. Sri Lanka: 121/6 (Gunaratne 39, Madavi 21) India: 122/2 in 14.4 overs (Rodrigues 69*, Mandhana 25)