The Women’s Division I limited overs tournament got underway on the 18th of June. In the games that have been held so far, Air Force SC (A), Navy SC (A), Colts Cricket Club and Air Force SC (B) have clinched wins while the opening game of the tournament, between Matara SC and Army SC (A) was washed out.
Navy SC (A) vs Army SC (A)
Batting first, defending champions Navy A were restricted to 174/8 in their allotted 50 overs at the Army Grounds in Panagoda. Hasini Perera starred with the bat for the visitors making 60 while Niluka Karunaratne and Achini Kulasuriya picked up two wickets apiece to restrict the star studded Navy team to a below par total.
With light failing, the Army SC girls came perilously close to creating an upset as Janani Kaushalya and Sugandika Kumari fought hard. They fell short by 4 runs however and were dismissed for 170 in 49.2 overs, giving the visitors a very close win.
Navy SC (A) 174/8 (50) Hasini Perera 60, Prasadi Weerakkody 39, Niluka Karunarathna 2/26, Achini Kulasuriya 2/45
Army SC (A) 170 (49.2) Sugandika kumari 44, Janani Kaushalya 36, Inoka Ranweera 2/27, Chandima Gunarathna 2/34
Result – Navy SC (A) won by 4 runs
Matara SC vs Air Force SC (B)
Last season’s Division II Champions Air Force B registered a comfortable win against the ladies from Matara in their 1st game of the tournament held at the Uyanwatta Grounds in Matara. The game was reduced to a 43 over affair due to bad weather and the hosts could only make 95/8 in their allotted overs. Left-armer Dharshani Dharmasiri picked up 3 crucial wickets to restrict the hosts.
The Air Force ladies cantered to 70/4 in 23 overs when the game was called off due to bad weather and were awarded the win according to the Duckworth-Lewis method.
Matara SC 95/8 (43) Piumi Wathsala 24, Malsha Shehani 20, Dharshani Dharmasiri 3/14
Air Force SC (B) 70/4 (23) Harshani Maduwanthi 16*, Sayani Dilakshika 3/17
Result – Air Force SC (B) won by 6 wickets (D/L method)
Colts CC vs Navy SC B
Colts CC clinched a comfortable win over the fancied Navy SC (B) team at their home grounds yesterday. Bolstered by the performances of 18 year old Harshitha Samarawickrama and veteran A G Janakanthimala, Colts posted 193 in their allotted 50 overs. Dinesha Henitigala was the star with the ball, picking up 5/30.
Colts SC’s spin trio of Poojani Liyanage, Janakanthimala and Chamila Manjula put the visitors under pressure right from the word go, picking up 8 wickets between them as Navy B was restricted to 103 all out in 36.3 overs.
Colts CC 193/9 (50) Harsitha Samarawikrama 66, A G Janakanthimala 52, Dinesha Henitigala 5/30, Dushanthi Dedunu 2/36
Navy SC (B) 103 (36.3) Kanchana Sandamali 15, Pujani Liyanage 3/21, A G Janakanthimala 3/13, Chamila Manjula 2/7
Result – Colts CC won by 90 runs
Army SC (B) vs Air Force SC (A)
Sri Lanka vice-captain Chamari Atapattu was all class as she belted the visiting Army team all over the park on her way to a blistering 59, chasing a target of 98.
Batting 1st the Army SC ladies never got going as they clawed their way to 97/8 in their allotted overs. Inushi Fernando was the star with the ball, picking up 3 crucial wickets for the home team. In reply, the home team got home with more than half of the allotted overs remaining.
Army SC (B) 97/8 (50) Ayesha Sandamali 24, Udayangani De Silva 21, Inushi Fernando 3/11
Air Force (A) 101/3 (22.2) Chamari Athapaththu 59
Result – Air Force SC (A) won by 7 wickets
Army SC (A) vs Matara SC
The game was called off due to bad weather.
Matara SC 52/5 (21.1) Niluka Karunarathna 2/06, Shereena Ravikumar 2/15
Army SC (A) Did not bat
, Navy SC (A), Colts Cricket Club and Air Force SC (B) have clinched wins while the opening game of the tournament, between Matara SC and Army SC (A) was washed out.){kind=link}