The Southern Stars got their tour to Sri Lanka off to a great start by notching up a 4 wicket win over the hosts in the 1st of 4 ODIs to be played between the two sides. Inoka Ranaweera was the standout for the Lankan Women with both bat and ball but despite her performance, the Australian Women chased down the target of 76 with 4 wickets in hand, handing them a 1-0 lead in the series.

Having won the toss and elected to bat 1st, the hosts got off to the worst possible start with 5 of their top 6 batters being dismissed for ducks; the only batter to get off the mark in the top 6 was Imalka Mendis, who made 1 off 28 deliveries. Megan Schutt and Holly Ferling had done the damage for the Stars early on, picking up the 1st 5 wickets for just 3 runs but things just got worse for the home team when the spinners were brought into the attack as Kristen Beams picked up 3 more to leave Sri Lanka tottering on 38/8.

Inoka Ranaweera and Sugandika Kumari then put on the best partnership of the innings (25 runs), saving Sri Lanka from the embarrassment of being bundled out for their lowest total in ODIs, which still stands at 57 vs Australia in 2005.

Photo Album – Sri Lanka Women’s vs Australia Women’s – 1st ODI

Ranaweera made 32 off 43 balls but Erin Osborne managed to dismiss the final two batters, leaving Australia a total of 77 to win. The visitors gave away 16 extras, making it the 2nd biggest contributor to the Sri Lankan innings.

Sri Lanka got off to a decent start with the ball, as Lokusooriya dismissed Ellyse Villaini for a golden duck but Captain Meg Lanning steadied the ship alongside Nicole Bolton as they raced to 45 in just over 8 overs. However, the dismissal of Lanning for 27 sparked a mini collapse as Ellyse Perry, Alex Blackwell and Bolton were dismissed in quick succession to leave the Stars on 50/5.

The hosts were never going to be able to defend a total of 77 however and a handy partnership of 25 between Jess Jonassen and Alyssa Healy ensured that Australia got home in what had turned out to be a nervy chase.

The only silver lining for the Lankans is the fact that this game was not a part of the ICC Women’s Championship, meaning that they could still move up the table with better performances in the 3 ODIs to follow.