Day 2 of the Women’s Division I 50 over tournament got underway yesterday, with 3 matches being played in and around Colombo.
The game between Colts Cricket Club and Army SC (B) ended in a nail biting tie while tournament favourites Navy SC (A) and Air Force SC (A) secured wins at their respective home grounds.
Colts Cricket Club vs Army SC (B)
Colts CC won the toss and elected to bat on what seemed to be a low and slow surface at the Army Grounds in Panagoda. The visitors got off to a reasonably good start with former Sri Lanka national representative Deepika Rasangika and Sharmini Shaila steadying the innings after the early dismissal of opener Amasha Anjali. A dramatic collapse after the dismissal of the two saw the Colts finishing on 156 all out in 49 overs.
Photo Album – Army SC vs Colts CC – Women’s Division I Limited 50 Overs
The hosts began slowly and were never quite able to get going but managed to keep wickets intact going into the final 10 overs. At one stage they were 89/2 however they too collapsed as the pressure mounted. Captain Krishanthi Sandamali turned out to be the hero for the Soldiers as she held her nerve to help her team sneak through to tie the game off the last delivery.
Colts CC 156 (49) Sharmini Shaila 36, Deepika Rasangika 34, Ganeesha Chamari 3/19, Nishanthi Pathmachandra 2/38
Army SC (B) 156/9 (50) Krishanthi Sandamali 35, Nimali Perera 35, Chamila Manjula 2/22
Result – Match Tied
Navy SC (B) vs Air Force SC (A)
Air Force A cruised to another easy win at the Rifle Green grounds yesterday as they overcame the Navy B team by 6 wickets.
Batting first after winning the toss, the visitors were bowled out for just 101 in 47.3 overs. National players Sripali Weerakkody and Chamari Polgampola were the chief destroyers for the Air Force ladies as they picked up 8 wickets between them, ripping through the Navy batting lineup.
Air Force A was in a spot of bother early on in their reply but experienced campaigners Dilani Manodara and Oshadi Ranasinghe steadied the innings and helped their team to an easy win, with close to 23 overs to spare.
Navy SC (B) 101 (47.3) Dinesha Henatigala 21, Kanchana Sandamali 21, Sripali Weerakkody 5/26, Chamari Polgampola 3/8
Air Force (A) 103/4 (27.2) Dilani Manodara 40*, Oshadi Ranasinghe 33*
Result – Air Force SC (A) won by 6 wickets
Air Force SC (B) vs Navy SC (A)
The Navy A team turned the tables on the Air Force B team in their fixture held at the Navy Grounds in Welisara, winning it by 55 runs.
The home team was in trouble early on as they lost six wickets to left arm seamer Dharshani Dharmasiri, however the visitors could not finish the job and allowed the Navy batters to post a score of 165. Lasanthi Madushani notched up what turned out to be a match winning 87 not out.
Women’s Division I Cricket; Navy clinches nail biter
Air Force just could not cope with the experienced Navy bowling lineup and were eventually all out for 110 in 49.4 overs. Chathurani Gunawardene, who had picked up 3 wickets earlier in the day, did her part with the bat as well, making a fighting 63 but her all-round efforts were in vain as the visitors slumped to a heavy defeat.
Navy SC (A) 165 (47.3) Lasanthi Madushani 87*, Dharshani Dharmasiri 6/26, Chathurani Gunawardana 3/23
Air Force SC (B) 110 (49.4) Chathurani Gunawardana 63, Inoka Ranaweera 6/18
