West Indies women’s fought back to record their first win of the series when they defeat Sri Lanka women’s by 6 wickets (DRS system) in their rain hit second T-20 match played at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium Hambantota yesterday. The 37-year-old Leg spinner Afy Fletcher was the match winner taking excellent figures of 4 for 23 in her 3.2 overs spell.
With this win the three match series is 1-1 equal and both teams are looking to win the series on their third and final T-20 on tomorrow (28) at the same venue.
Sri Lanka women’s invited to bat first made 89 for 4 wickets when the game was interrupted by rain and umpires decided to give revised target of 99 for 15 overs for West Indies lasses.
The openers skipper Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor made positive start in their chasing as the pair added 44 runs in 6.5 overs. Mathews hit run a ball 29 with 5 fours while Taylor hit an unbeaten 28 in 26 balls with 2 fours and the pair put pressure on Sri Lanka bowlers. However Mathews was clean bowled by young leg spinner Shacini Nisansala in her first over to get first breakthrough. Taylor associated further 24 runs second wicket stand with Shamaine Campbell who hit 16 with 13 balls with 2 fours while Aaliya Alleyne made brisk 15 in 8 balls with 3 fours to gain victory with five balls to spare.
Skipper Chamari Athapaththu, Kavisha Dilhari and Sachini Nisansala shared one wicket each. West Indies lasses reached their target with six wickets in hand with five balls to spare.
Earlier Sri Lanka openers Chamari Athapaththu hit 26 in 25 balls with 4 fours and a six while Vishmi Gunaratne scored 25 in 35 balls with 3 fours added 44 runs stand in 7.5 overs. However after departure of openers Sri Lanka lasses couldn’t get good momentum and managed to get 89 for 4 wickets in 15.2 overs and rain halted the game at that stage. However the ground staff made valiat effort to resume the game.
Chief scores
Sri Lanka women’s 89 for 4 wickets in 15.2 overs (Vishmi Gunaratne 24, Chamari Athapaththu 26, Harshitha Samarawickrama 14, Kavisha Dilhari 14, Afy Fletcher 4/23)
West Indies Women’s (revised target 99 in 15 overs ) 99 for 4 wickets in 14.1 overs (Hayley Matthews 29, Stefanie Taylor 28*, Shermine Campbell 16, Aaliya Alleyne 15*, Chamari Athapaththu 1/18, Kavisha Dilhari 1/25, Sachini Nisansala 1/18)
Dhammika Ratnaweera
