A disciplined bowling display by the Sri Lankan Women helped them to kick off the T20 series with a win.
Following the game being reduced to 13 overs per team, Sri Lanka Women won the toss and elected to bat first. The decision soon back fired as they lost their first wicket in the 2nd ball of the match. Yasoda Mendis was the first to be dismissed for Sri Lanka as she was bowled by Shabnim Ismail in the second ball of the innings for 4 runs. Shashikala Siriwardene joined Captain Chamari Atapattu and together the pair added a quick fire 53 runs for the second wicket. Chamari Atapattu was the second batswomen to be dismissed as she was clean bowled by Yolani Fourie for 20 off 15 balls.
The only other substantial partnership of the innings was between Eshani Kaushalya and Hasini Perera as the pair put on 22 runs for the fourth wicket. The lower order failed to make a major impact as Sri Lanka Women ended their innings at 101/7 in their allotted 13 overs. Marizanne Kapp was the pick of the bowlers as she picked up 2 wickets for 16 runs in her allotted 3 overs.
South Africa began poorly as they lost opener Trisha Chetty in the 2nd over of the game for 8 runs. Lizelle Lee joined Dane van Niekerk and together the pair put on 42 runs for the 2nd wicket. Inoka Ranaweera dismissed Dane van Niekerk Lbw to peg South Africa back. Lizelle Lee soon followed her partner as she too was dismissed by Inoka Ranaweera for 41 runs off 30 balls.
Good disciplined bowling from the Sri Lankan bowlers helped peg back South Africa further as they were reduced to 6 for 89 in the final over of the game. South Africa finished the game scoring just 94 runs for the loss of 6 wickets as Sri Lanka Women ran out winners of the 1st T20 international. Eshani Kaushalya and Inoka Ranaweera bagged two wickets a-piece for Sri Lanka.
Brief Score:
Sri Lanka Women 101 for 7 (Shashikala Siriwardene 28, Chamari Atapattu 20, Marizanne Kapp 2-16) beat South Africa Women 94 for 6 (Lizelle Lee 41, Mignon du Preez 20, Eshani Kaushalya 2-11) by 7 runs.
