Skipper Chamari Athapaththu took career best figures of 4 for 29 as Sri Lanka women recorded a four wicket win over West Indies women in their first T-20 game of the three match series played at Mahinda Rajapaksa International cricket stadium yesterday.
Sri Lanka lasses chasing a target of 135 reached 137 for six wickets in 18.4 overs with 8 balls to spare. Sri Lanka lost their experienced opener Chamari Athapaththu (1 in 8 balls) int third over bowled by opponent skipper Hayley Matthews when substitute fielder Cherry Fraser took a good catch at deep mid wicket but young Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama build up the innings adding 46 run second wicket stand. Vishmi played aggressive innings while Harshitha rotated the strike to give good supportive role and they were 43 for 1 wicket after power play.
Vishmi Gunaratne who was adjudged player of the series in ODI series hit 25 ball 35 with 6 fours while Harshitha scored 35 in 34 balls with 3 fours bowled by Aaliya Alleyne at 14 th over but latter stages Hasini Perera hit 14 ball 20 with 3 fours and Nilakshika Silva made an unbeaten 17 in 15 balls with 2 fours guided Sri Lankan womens to reach the target with four wickets in hand in 18.4 overs.
Earlier West Indies women invited to bat first but skipper Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor couldn’t get good start and Taylor retired hurt back to the pavilion in third over. Taylor once again came to bat at middle stage but she was able to get 11 in 15 balls with a four.
Matthews who missed last two ODIs due to injury together with Quina Joseph added 31 runs stand while Chamari Athapaththu who open the bowling with her off spin to dismiss Joseph in 7 th over.
Hayley Matthews top scored with run a ball 30 with 5 fours and off spinner Inoshi Priyadharshani took her prized wicket. Sri Lanka spinners made tidy spell to restrict middle order and they couldn’t get runs as they expected and managed to get 134 for 8 wickets in 20 overs.
Chamari this time used her experience as a bowler ended her four over spell with a career best figures of 4 for 29 while Inoshi Priyadharshani made a good supporting role to take 3 for 28.
Two teams will meet in their second T-20 game tomorrow at the same venue Hambantota.
Chief scores
West Indies women’s 134 for 8 wickets in 20 overs (Stafanie Taylor 11, Hayley Matthews 30, Quina Joseph 20, Aaliya Alleyne 26, Afy Fletcher 14*, Chamari Athapaththu 4/29, Inoshi Priyadharshani 3/28, Ama Kanchana 1/19)
Sri Lanka women’s 137 for 6 wickets in 18.4 overs (Vishmi Gunaratne 35, Harshitha Samarawickrama 35, Hasini Perera 20, Nilakshika Silva 17*, Shamalia Connell 1/15, Hayley Matthews 1/19, Karishma Ramharack 1/30, Afy Fletcher 2/29, Aaliya Alleyne 1/14)
Dhammika Ratnaweera
