Kavisha, Vishmi guide Sri Lanka Women to series win
Kavisha Dilhari who took 4 for 20 celebrating a wicket (Pix courtesy SLC)/Vishmi Gunaratne who made her maiden fifty playing a shot Kavisha Dilhari who took 4 for 20 celebrating a wicket (Pix courtesy SLC)/Vishmi Gunaratne who made her maiden fifty playing a shot
Kavisha Dilhari the off spinner took her career best figures of 4 for 20 and opener Vishmi Gunaratne hit a maiden ODI fifty as Sri Lanka women’s recorded a five wicket win over West Indies in their second ODI cricket fixture played at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota yesterday. With this victory Sri Lanka lasses won the series 2-0 with one game to spare.
This series win is a significant milestone of Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket team as they beat West Indies Women’s Cricket team in a bilateral ODI series after 16 years.
Sri Lanka women’s chasing a target of 93 lost their skipper experienced Chamari Athapaththu clean bowled by fast bowler Aaliyah Alleynne in third over Chamari scored only 1 run facing 7 balls. Harshitha Samarawickrama joined Vishmi but Harshitha was out for a duck facing 9 balls and Sri Lanka were 21 for 2 wickets after 5.4 overs.
Vishmi Gunaratne the 18-year-old right hander played a superb innings hit her maiden ODI half ton which came in 50 balls with 9 fours and a six while Kavisha Dilhari hit 28 in 38 balls with 4 boundaries and the pair added 58 runs for third wicket to ensure their victory.
Earlier West Indies women elected to bat first but they were unable to get a good start and top order were struggling at 46 for 4 wickets after 19.3 overs. Opener Rashada Williams top scored with 24 with 4 fours while others were unable to impress with the bat .The 23 year old off spinner Kavisha Dilhari had excellent figures of 4 for 20 in her 6 over spell to bowl out West Indies while opening bowler Achini Kulasuriya and skipper Chamari Athapaththu played good supporting roles to capture two wickets each.
Sri Lanka made only one change yesterday bringing Sashini Nisansala for experienced Inoka Ranaweera while West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews did not play this game and deputy skipper Shemaine Campbell led the side yesterday.
Two teams will meet in their third and final ODI on July 21 at the same venue Hambantota.
Chief scores
West Indies Women 92 all out in 31overs Rashada Williams 24 , Cheden Nation 12, Aaliyah Alleyne 16, Afy Fletcher 16,Achini Kulasuriya 2/16, Sugandika Kumari 1/16, Kavisha Dilhari 4/20, Chamari Athapaththu 2/8.
Sri Lanka Women 93 for 5 wickets in 21.2 overs Vishmi Gunaratne 50, Kavisha Dilhari 28, Shamilia Connell 1/13, Aaliyah Alleyne 1/15, Karishma Ramharak 2/29, Zaida James 1/12.