Air Force went on to clinch the Division I Women’s Limited Over Championship by 61 runs thanks to an outstanding performance by Chamari Atapattu, who made 60 and then picked up 2 wickets as Army were restricted to 129 chasing 191.
Air Force chose to bat after winning the all-important toss at the MCA Grounds earlier today and their opening pair of Yasoda Mendis and Chamari Atapattu got them off to a good start, with Mendis making 41 and Atapattu being eventually dismissed for 60. The other batters too chipped in but the Soldiers struck at regular intervals to ensure that Air Force did not run away with the game. They finished on 190/9 in their 50 overs.
Sugandika Kumari and Lakmali Meththananda picked up 5 wickets between them.
Chasing a modest total of 191 for a upset win, the Soldiers let the pressure of the final get to them and ultimately folded for 129 in 45.4 overs, giving Air Force a much needed title win. Meththananda shone with the bat as well, but was the lone fighter as the Soldiers lost by 61 runs.
Atapattu was the star with the ball once again as she picked up 2 crucial wickets alongside Chamari Polgampola, who also chipped in with 2 wickets.
Air Force (A) 190/9 (50) Chamari Athapaththu 60, Yasoda Mendis 41, Dilani Manodara 24, Ama Kanchana 23*, Oshadi Ranasinghe 21, Sugandika Kumari 3/21, Lakmali Meththananda 2/38, Niluka Karunarathne 2/39
Army (A) 129 (45.4) Lakmali Meththananda 27, Chamari Polgampola 2/13,Chamari Athapaththu 2/28
