Nilakshi seals series win for Sri Lanka women

Sri Lanka women are continuously proving that they do not depend on their skipper Chamari Athapaththu alone and it was Nilakshi de Silva’s turn yesterday to come up with a match winning effort in the decisive third T-20 International against Bangladesh at SSC.

Sri Lanka were 56 for three at the half-way mark in the tenth over, but what followed in the last ten overs was mayhem as the hosts scored 102 runs with Nilakshi sharing a big partnership with Harshitha Samarawickrama for the fourth wicket.

Harshitha scored 51 off 42 balls with six boundaries while 33-year-old Nilakshi hit 63 off 39 balls with four fours and four sixes during their unfinished partnership.Sri Lanka’s total of 157 was no match for Bangladesh as they managed only 114 for seven in their 20 overs.

Udeshika Prabodhini, Kavya Kavindi and Inoka Ranaweera picked up two wickets apiece. The win helped Sri Lanka to wrap up the series 2-1. Bangladesh had won the first T-20 and Sri Lanka bounced back to win the last two games.Sri Lanka also won the three match ODI series 1-0. Two games were washed out by rain.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka 158 for three in 20 overs  

(Nilakshi de Silva 63, Harshitha Samarawickrama 51, Chamari Athapaththu 32, Fahima Khatun 1 for 31)

Bangladesh 114 for seven in 20 overs  

(Sobhana Mostary 30, Nigar Sultana 31, Udeshika Prabodhani 2 for 17, Inoka Ranaweera 2 for 17)

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu receiving the trophy from SLC vice-president Jayantha Dhamadasa