Sri Lanka women overcome New Zealand women by nine wickets

Captain Chamari Atapattu’s heroics enabled Sri Lanka to get off to a good start in the white ball series against New Zealand women in Galle yesterday as the host beat the Kiwis by nine wickets with six balls to spare.

In a game reduced to 28 overs due to rain, Sri Lanka women reduced the White Ferns for 170 for five and in reply skipper Atapattu along with Vishmi Gunaratne laid the platform for the big win with a 159-run stand for the first wicket.

Gunaratne fell with 12 runs needed for the win but there was no stopping Atapattu who smashed an unbeaten 108 off 83 balls with ten fours and five sixes.

The remaining two ODI will also be played in Galle while the teams return to Colombo for the three-match T-20 Series with P. Sara Oval hosting all three games.

Brief scores:

New Zealand women

170 for five in 28 overs (Amelia Kerr 40, Maddy Green 38, Kavisha Dilhari 1-26, Sugandika Kumari 1-28, Inoka Ranaweera 1-40)

Sri Lanka women

172 for one in 27 overs (Chamari Atapattu 108), Vishmi Gunaratne 50, Sophie Devine 1-20)