The Sri Lanka women’s cricketers, took flight to the West Indies last evening for a tour that will consist of 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is.
The tour is set to commence with a practice game against the Trinidad and Tobago Women, with the 1st ODI set to take place on the 11th at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad
“The players have worked hard on their preparations, and there is a changed outlook as a whole,” Manager Indrani Abeyratne said.
Meanwhile, Coach, Hemantha Devappriya said that while the team had struck a pleasing balance in most every department of the game, a buoying factor was that the team had averaged a score of 190 in an innings during this year’s world cup. “A concern was that we were not getting close to 200. The team used to average 130 which were not good enough. But in the 7 matches in the world cup we averaged 190,” he said.
Much home work had gone in to the effort of raising their game. “We developed a range of shots to increase the number of singles. We were therefore able to increase from an average of 40 runs to 80 at the World Cup through singles,” the coach explained.
The 3 ODIs will also function as ICC Women’s Championship games.
Notable absentees from the touring party are experienced campaigners Oshadi Ranasinghe and Eshani Lokusooriya while wicket keeper batsman Rebeca Vandort, who last appeared in national colours in 2014, has managed to find herself in the 15-member squad.
Inoka Ranaweera will continue as skipper while Sripali Weerakkody has replaced Prasadini Weerakkody as her deputy.
Squad
Inoka Ranaweera (Captain), Sripali Weerakkody (Vice Captain), Rebeca Vandort, Prasadani Weerakkody, Chamari Athapaththu, Dilani Manohara, Nipuni Hansika, Hasini Perera, Yashoda Mendis, Chandima Gunarathne, Hansima Karunarathne, Shashikala Siriwardena, Ama Kanchana, Achini Kulasuriya, Udeshika Prabodini
Fixtures
