Brilliant all-round performances by former skipper Shashikala Siriwardene helped Sri Lanka women’s team defeat West Indies women’s team by 6 wickets in their 2nd ODI match played at R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday.
Four wickets with the ball and unbeaten knock of 42* by the right-handed all-rounder propelled the hosts to level the 4-match ODI series 1-1. The Windies skipper Melissa Aguilleira won the toss and elected to bat first on a hot and sunny day in Colombo. After losing the 1st ODI by 6 wickets, the home girls needed to win this all-important ICC Women’s Championship game.
The visiting openers got off to a sedate start putting 27 runs for the first wicket before Hayley Matthews was undone by right-arm seamer, Sripali Weerakkody. Opener Kycia Knight was then joined by experienced Stafanie Taylor and both of them built a solid platform for the batswomen to follow with an impressive 48-run stand but Knight was trapped LBW by right-arm off spinner, Shashikala Siriwardene for 28.
The Lankan spinners got their act together perfectly in the middle overs to tighten the screws on run-scoring and the pressure got to the visitors as they started to lose wickets at regular intervals. Stefanie Taylor was by far the best batswomen stroking 43 runs in 70 balls with 5 fours. West Indies lost their last 9 wickets for just 49 runs to be bundled out for 124 in the 43rd over. Shashikala bowled superbly taking 4 wickets for just 30 runs while her partner-in-crime Maduri Samuddika grabbed 2 wickets.
Chasing a modest target of 125, the Lankan opening pair of Prasadini Weerakkody and Lasanthi Madushani added 36 runs before Weerakkody was dismissed by right-arm off-break bowler, Anisa Mohammed for 15. Few overs later, Madushani was caught by Stafanie Taylor off Afy Fletcher’s bowling for just 16 runs. Injured skipper Chamari Atapattu’s replacement, Yashoda Mendis played a crucial knock for the hosts as she contributed with 27 runs for the winning cause.
Number 5 batswomen, Shashikala Siriwardene played the anchor role in the chasing after coming into bat when the score was just 69. The right-handed 30-year old veteran in Women’s cricket played a gem of an innings of 42 in 72 balls to help Sri Lanka get over the line convincingly with 6 wickets and 64 balls remaining.
The 3rd ODI will be worked out on 17th May at R. Premadasa Internatinoal Stadium.
Chief Scores:
West Indies Women – 124 all out in 42.3 overs: Stafanie Taylor 43, Kycia Knight 28, Shashikala Siriwardene 4/30, Maduri Samuddika 2/16.
Sri Lanka Women – 127/4 in 39.2 overs: Shashikala Siriwardene 42*, Yashoda Mendis 27, Stacy-Ann King 1/7, Anisa Mohammed 1/22.
