The Sri Lankan women were unable to avoid their 5th straight loss on their tour of New Zealand as they succumbed to defeat in the 5th and final ODI at the Hagley Oval today.
The visitors travelled to Christchurch for this game after playing the last four ODIs in Lincoln.
Sri Lanka has had the better of New Zealand on this tour only when it came to the toss and that trend continued with Chamari Atapattu winning her 2nd consecutive toss and choosing to bat first. Sri Lanka’s plan seemed to be to try and occupy the crease for as long as possible with the highest strike rate being 56 and that too by No. 10 Suganthika Kumari! But the plan backfired once again as the batters struggled to score runs off the Ferns bowlers. Skipper Atapattu’s new opening partner Prasadini Weerakkody was the only player to pass 20 runs as the visitors were bundled out for just 99: their lowest total on tour.
It was an all-round performance with the ball from the White Ferns once again as medium pacers Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Anna Peterson bagged two wickets each while leg spinner Erin Bermingham came on to sweep up the tail and ended with career best bowling figures of 4/16.
Chasing 100 to seal a series sweep, regular openers for the Ferns, Suzie Bates and Rachel Priest dropped themselves down the order to allow the other batters to get some time in the middle. Sri Lanka had struggled to dismiss Bates and Priest throughout the series and were not given any respite by Sophie Devine and Sara McGlashan, who opened today, as they put on a partnership of 49 in 8 overs. The visitors managed to pick up 2 wickets but could not stop the White Ferns as they romped to an 8 wicket win.
The White Ferns have achieved a number of individual and team milestones throughout the series and this win was the icing on the cake completing their first ever series sweep in ODI cricket.
Sri Lanka on the hand don’t really have many positives to take from the series having gone down 5-0 but what would be most disappointing is the manner in which they have lost; seemingly without a fight. It was always going to be a tough ask to defeat the Ferns in their own backyard as the Lankans have never beaten them in an ODI prior to this series.
With the 3 match T20 series commencing on Sunday, the visitors will hope they can unearth some inspiration to counter the White Ferns if they are to return home with some dignity intact.
Sri Lanka Women 99 all out (47.5) (Prasadini Weerakkody 27, Erin Bermingham 4/16, Suzie Bates 2/8)
New Zealand Women 102/2 (17.3) (Sara McGlashan 39, Katie Perkins 29, Ama Kanchana 1/26)
New Zealand Women won by 8 wickets
