Sri Lanka women secure ten wicket win over New Zealand

Sri Lanka completed a comprehensive ten wicket win over New Zealand in the third T-20 International between the countries at the P. Sara Oval yesterday. The Kiwis, or White Ferns as New Zealand women’s team is known, came into the game having taken an unassailable 2-0 lead and their hopes of completing a whitewash were squashed by the brilliant Sri Lankan opening pair.

Skipper Chamari Athapaththu and fellow opening batter Harshitha Samarawickrama made the 141-run chase look all too easy getting there with more than five overs to spare.

The Sri Lankan openers were unstoppable as they added 143 runs for the first wicket and Athapaththu celebrated her recent recognition as world’s number one ranked batter in ODI cricket with an unbeaten 80.

Athapaththu is the first Sri Lankan batter since Sanath Jayasuriya to be ranked the number one in the world by the ICC. Her impressive efforts in the ODI format are sure to earn her more accolades and opportunities in franchise cricket in other parts of the world.

Her 80 not out came off 56 deliveries with 13 fours and two sixes while Samarawickrama was unbeaten on 49 off 40 balls with seven hits to the rope.

The New Zealand bowlers failed to make a breakthrough as Sri Lanka women cruised to the target without any trouble.

After being put into bat, the White Ferns looked set to post a commanding total as they reached 65 for one in the first ten overs. The bowlers then did well to pull things back as the tourists collapsed and were restricted to 140 for nine.

Inoka Ranaweera was impressive claiming three wickets and she was well backed up by Sugandika Kumari, who claimed two wickets.

Sri Lanka came into the T-20 series full of confidence having beaten the Kiwis in the three match ODI series that preceded in Galle.

Women’s cricket in Sri Lanka has received a major boost in recent years and more girls’ schools are taking up the sport. Although games like netball, basketball and swimming are popular among girls’ schools, cricket is gradually catching up.

Brief Scores:

New Zealand Women

140 for nine in 20 overs 

(Suzie Bates 37, Sophie Devine 46, Inoka Ranaweera 3-15, Sugandika Kumari 2-23)

Sri Lanka Women

142 for no loss in 14.3 overs 

(Chamari Athapaththu 80*, Harshitha Samarawickrama 49*)