Sri Lanka women notched up a close 5-run win according to the D/L method against West Indies women in their 1st T20 match played at R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.
Sri Lanka women’s skipper Chamari Atapattu won the toss and elected to field with rain looming over the ground but the strong wind kept it away as long as possible. The Windies women lost two wickets in the very first over bowled by Sripali Weerakkody as Kycia Knight and Deandra Dottin scored 4 runs each. Brittany Cooper and opener Stafanie Taylor added 32 runs for the 3rd wicket before Cooper fell to the bowling of Udeshika Prabodhani for 17.
Right-handed Taylor continued to anchor the innings with a fluent 41-ball 40. She was also involved a 42-ball partnership worth 45 runs for the 5th wicket with skipper Melissa Aguillera. The captain remained unbeaten on 28 from 30 balls as the visitors posted 109 runs for 6 wickets in 20 overs.
Chasing 110 runs to win in 20 overs, Sri Lanka women lost Yashoda Mendis early on before she troubled the scores. Wicket-keeper batswomen, Dilani Manodara was exceptional in her stroke making as she cracked the top-score of 28 off 21 balls for the hosts. Two other batswomen, Nipuni Hansika and Hasini Perera was dismissed without adding a single run to the score.
Little cameos of 17 and 16 by Shashikala Siriwardene and Eshani Kaushalya ensured Sri Lanka women were 5 runs ahead when the match was stopped for rain at the 15.2 over-mark. Sri Lanka were 88 for 6 and according to the D/L method, they were awarded winners. Stacy-Ann King and Anisa Mohammed captured 2 wickets apiece for the Windies ladies.
The 2nd T20 match will be played at the same venue on 25th May.
Chief Scores:
West Indies women – 109/6 in 20 overs: Stafanie Taylor 40, Brittany Cooper 17, Melissa Aguillera 28*, Sripali Weerakkody 3/13.
Sri Lanka women – 88/6 in 15.2 overs: Dilani Manodara 28, Shashikala Siriwardene 17*, Chamari Atapattu 17, Eshani Kaushalya 16, Stacy-Ann King 2/16, Anisa Mohammed 2/15.
