Sri Lanka’s inaugural tour of New Zealand ended earlier today as the hosts romped home to a 9 wicket win at the Saxton Oval in Nelson, sweeping the T20 series 3-0.
The Lankans, who had lost the ODI series 5-0 had hoped to build on their performance in the 2nd T20 where they almost pulled off an upset victory, but were done in by reckless running between wickets and shot selection.
Suzie Bates won the toss for the White Ferns and put the visitors in to bat in blustering conditions and was rewarded almost immediately when opener Hasini Perera was run-out in the 1st over of the game. In form batter Chamari Atapattu followed soon after having struggled to get going, making 4 off 11 deliveries. Nipuni Hansika then succumbed to some horrendous running off a free hit delivery, leaving the tourists at 25/3 at the end of the six overs of powerplay. Wicket keeper Dilani Manodara, who had appeared to be in some sort of form, then began to rebuild the innings alongside Oshadi Ranasinghe. She took the attack to the Kiwi bowlers, carving Hannah Rowe for a six over square leg. She fell for a brisk 23 off 19 deliveries at which point Sri Lanka were 68/5 with just over 6 overs to go in the innings. Another mini collapse meant that Sri Lanka barely managed to avoid being bowled out inside the 20 overs as they finished on 86/9.
Playing just her 2nd T20i, Thamsyn Newton picked up career best figures of 3 for 9 in her 4 over spell. Being the 6th bowler to be used by Bates, Newton picked up the key wickets of Manodara and Ranasinghe in the 14th over and then bowled Nilashi De Silva in the 16th over to end Sri Lanka’s brief resurrection. Leigh Kasperek, who bowled a triple wicket maiden in the last game, finished with 2 for 7 off her 4 overs. Lea Tahuhu and Hannah Rowe picked up a wicket a piece.
The White Ferns continued their practice of rotating their opening combinations with Amy Satterthwaite and Rachel Priest walking out to bat today. Suzie Bates, Sri Lanka’s chief tormentor during the series, had dropped herself down the order but this brought no respite for the visitors as New Zealand’s 50 came off just 24 deliveries. Satterthwaite played the aggressor, making 33 off 21 deliveries, including 4 boundaries. Upon her departure, Priest took the reigns as she blasted 37 off 23 deliveries. Sophie Devine crashed the 2nd delivery of the 10th over to the boundary, bringing to an end a disappointing tour for Sri Lanka.
The visitors failed to register a single win over the course the month long tour, losing 9 matches in all, including the tour match versus New Zealand A and would be disappointed with the manner in which they have lost the games, with New Zealand only really having to work for a win in the 2nd T20.
Sri Lanka Women 86/9 (20) (Dilani Manodara 23, Thamsyn Newton 3/9, Lea Kasperek 2/7)
New Zealand Women 90/1 (9.2) (Rachel Priest 37, Amy Satterthwaite 33, Chamari Atapattu 1/19)
New Zealand Women won by 9 wickets
