The stage is set for a high-stakes showdown as Sri Lanka take on India in the final of the 2025 Women’s ODI Tri-Series at the iconic R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. India, having topped the points table with three wins out of four, enter the contest as favourites, but the hosts will be eager to leverage home advantage again and spring another surprise. With both teams boasting quality line-ups and recent form, Sunday’s final promises to be a riveting contest that could go down to the wire.
Colombo Weather Forecast
Weather could play a decisive role in this all-important final. The forecast for Sunday in Colombo points to scattered showers throughout the day, with a 25% chance of precipitation and humidity levels hovering around 63%. Temperatures are expected to peak at 32°C, while winds could reach up to 18 km/h, adding another layer of complexity for both batters and bowlers.
While the showers are predicted to be intermittent rather than persistent, brief stoppages or a shortened game cannot be ruled out. The humidity and overcast conditions may aid swing bowlers early on, but the real challenge for players will be adapting to sudden changes in playing conditions. Teams will need to stay vigilant and flexible with their tactics, especially if the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method comes into play. Historically, May is one of the wetter months in Colombo, so both captains will keep a keen eye on the skies as well as the scoreboard.
R. Premadasa Stadium Pitch Report
The R. Premadasa Stadium has lived up to its reputation as a venue that offers something for everyone but tends to favour teams batting first. In this tri-series, first-innings scores have often exceeded 270, indicating that batters who apply themselves early can post formidable totals. The surface provides true bounce and pace in the initial overs, making strokeplay rewarding for those willing to settle in.
However, as the match progresses, the pitch tends to slow down and brings spinners into the game-over 60% of wickets in recent women’s ODIs here have fallen to spin. The wear and tear from consecutive matches in the series may further accentuate turn and grip, making run-chases increasingly tricky under lights. Captains winning the toss are likely to opt for batting first, aiming to exploit the best of the conditions before the pitch deteriorates and the spinners tighten their grip on proceedings.
Squads
Sri Lanka: Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Nilakshi de Silva, Manudi Nanayakkara, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Dewmi Vihanga, Sugandika Kumari, Malki Madara, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Inoka Ranaweera, Hansima Karunaratne, Achini Kulasuriya, Kavisha Dilhari, Rashmika Sewwandi, Piumi Badalge
India: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Shree Charani, Sneh Rana, Shuchi Upadhyay, Kashvee Gautam, Yastika Bhatia, Tejal Hasabnis, Arundhati Reddy
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
