The charm of Sri Lanka women will battle it out with the flair of West Indies women in four ODIs and three T20Is to be commenced on 13th May in Colombo.
Sri Lanka women’s team will play ODI cricket after January while the touring West Indies lasses are playing after November last year. This will be a very important bilateral series for both countries in order to consolidate their place in the ICC Women’s Championship and especially for the hosts, Sri Lanka who are languishing in the 7th place with only three points in six games while the Caribbean girls are currently at 5th position with six points from same number of matches. The final three games in the four-match ODI series will count towards the ICC Women’s Championship.
Sri Lanka lead West Indies in the head-to-head battle with 13 wins in a total of 24 games but the South Asian Islanders have lost 7 of the last 10 matches. Sri Lanka’s T20 record against West Indies is very poor as well with 12 losses in 15 games but this time around they have a good chance of improving their numbers.
ICC Women’s Championship
The inaugural ICC Women‘s Championship kicked off in August 2014 and it will see the top eight sides in the game lock horns in a multi-year, bilateral qualifying competition that will lead into the pinnacle event in women‘s cricket, the ICC Women‘s World Cup.
This concept was developed in order to create a more extensive and meaningful bilateral playing program for women’s cricket, the ICC Women‘s Championship will see the eight sides play each other in three one-day internationals, either at home or away, between 2014 and 2016.
Points will be awarded for each game, with the top four sides at the conclusion of the ICC Women‘s Championship gaining automatic qualification to the ICC Women‘s World Cup 2017, to be hosted by the England. The bottom four sides will have a second chance to qualify for the marquee event through the ICC Women‘s World Cup Qualifiers 2017 with the six regional qualified countries.
ICC Women’s Championship current standings:
1. Australia, 12 points
2. South Africa, 11 points
3. Pakistan, 8 points
4. England, 7 points
5. West Indies, 6 points
6. New Zealand, 4 points
7. Sri Lanka, 3 points
8. India, 3 points
Sri Lanka team
Left-handed opening batswomen Chamari Atapattu has been given the reigns to lead the hosts with the hard-hitting all-rounder Eshani Lokusuriyage named as the deputy. Off-spinning all-rounder and former captain, Shashikala Siriwardene will play a pivotal role in their chances while Sripali Weerakkody will be the opening bowler for the Lankan lasses.
Full Squad – Chamari Attapattu (Captain), Prasadini Weerakkody, Nipuni Hansika, Sanduni Abeywickrema, Dilani Manodara, Shashikala Siriwardene, Eshani Kaushalya, Sripali Weerakkody, Ama Kanchana, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Kumari, Lasanthi Madushani, Chathurani Gunewardene, Maduri Samuddhika.
West Indies team
Wicket-keeper batswomen, Merissa Aguilleira has the responsibility of leading the Windies ladies’ and she will have the services of top-class opening batswomen Stafanie Taylor and off-break bowler Anisa Mohammed.
Full Squad – Merissa Aguilleira (Captain), Stafanie Taylor, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Deandra Dottin , Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry, Stacy-Ann King, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Subrina Munroe, Tremayne Smartt
West Indies Women’s tour of Sri Lanka schedule:
13th May: 1st ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium (10am)
15th May: 2nd ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium (10am)
18th May: 3rd ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium (10am)
20th May: 4th ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium (10am)
23rd May: 1st T20I at R. Premadasa Stadium (10am)
25th May: 2nd T20I at R. Premadasa Stadium (10am)
26th May: 3rd T20I at R. Premadasa Stadium (2pm)
