The bowlers led the way for the White Ferns as they gave Sri Lanka a real thrashing in the 2nd ODI of the 5 match series, held at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln earlier today.
Having been put into bat by Ferns skipper Suzie Bates, the Lankan batters did not seem to be able to cope with the conditions and the tight bowling of the Kiwis and soon got themselves into a rut which they never recovered from.
Chamari Athapatthu, who played such an excellent innings in the last game, was the first to go, bowled by Sophie Devine in just the 2nd over. From being 1/1 in the 2nd over, Sri Lanka soon found themselves losing their 2nd wicket in the 3rd over, with Nipuni Hansika being run-out by Erin Bermingham. A very brief period of respite followed with Prasadini Weerakkody and Dilani Manodara digging in to occupy the crease. Weerakkody was dismissed for 13 and was followed back into the pavilion by Skipper Shashikala Siriwardene. Sri Lanka were now in very deep trouble at 27/4. Chamari Polgampola and Sripali Weerakkody tried to bring some respectability to the Lankan score but the task was beyond their reach and Sri Lanka were eventually bundled out for 126.
The Ferns bowling was yet again impressive all round, yet one wonders if it is the lack of fight from the opposition that is enabling them to bowl so well. Of the seven bowlers used by Bates five went for less than 3.5 runs an over, reflecting the stranglehold they had on the batters. Bates herself was the pick of the bowlers, going for just 27 runs in her 10 overs and picking up 3 wickets.
New Zealand’s power house top order would take some stopping if Sri Lanka were to put up a fight in the game. However Skipper Bates and last matches’ centurion Rachel Priest gave the Lankans no respite as they thrashed them to all parts. Bates took the lead in a characteristically belligerent fashion smashing a half ton in 34 balls. Priest was not far behind, as her half ton came in 43 deliveries. The Ferns cantered home at almost 9 runs an over and won with 213 balls to spare.
With the win New Zealand gained 2 more valuable Women’s Championship points enabling them to leapfrog South Africa and take 3rd place in the standings, 4 points behind leaders Australia and West Indies.
Sri Lanka Women 126 all out (46.5) (Chamari Polgampola 35, Dilani Manodara 31, Suzie Bates 3/27, Sophie Devine 2/17)
New Zealand Women 130/0 (14.3) (Suzie Bates 70, Rachel Priest 51)
New Zealand Women won by 10 wickets
