The Sri Lankan Women’s Cricket team got their World Cup Qualifier off to a poor start, crashing to a 114 run loss against counterparts India in their 1st game at the P Sara Stadium.
Mithali Raj won the toss for the visitors and took 1st lease of the wicket but it was Sri Lanka who got off to the better start as Udeshika Prabhodini struck early on to remove Mona Meshram, after a tight spell of bowling. Both Prabhodini and opening bowling partner Sripali Weerakkody kept things tight for the visitors as they gave away very little in the 1st 10 overs.
Deepti Sharma and Devika Vaidya took things slow in the opening exchange but managed to remain unbeaten through the toughest part of the Indian innings and their patience paid dividends as the runs began to flow freely once they both settled in. Sri Lanka’s spinners proved to be ineffective as the pitch offered very little for the slow bowlers and they struggled to contain the Indians in the middle overs.
Sharma and Vaidya put on 122 for the 2nd wicket with the latter going on to make a splendid 89 off 103 deliveries. Mithali Raj came in at the dismissal of Sharma and took the bowlers apart at a crucial stage of the game, making 70 off just 62 deliveries. India lost just 4 wickets on their way to posting 259/4 in their allotted overs.
Sri Lanka opted to go with Chamari Atapattu and Eshani Lokusooriya at the top of the order, after having experimented with quite a few combinations at the top during the past few months. The pair were slow to get off the mark but Lokusooriya took the attack to the opposition eventually and went on to make 26 off 37 as the pair put on 42 for the 1st wicket.
Sri Lanka looked to consolidate their position with Atapattu and Hasini Perera in the middle but unfortunately, although they occupied the crease, they were unable to pierce the gaps and make a dent on the required scoring rate.
Atapattu was dismissed in the 24th over, and it was all downhill from there for the visitors as the runs dried up with wickets falling at regular intervals. They ended well short of the target, making 145 for the loss of 8 wickets in their 50 overs.
Sri Lanka will face Ireland in a crucial game tomorrow at NCC.
Other results
Bdesh Wmn 215/6 v PNG Wmn 97 (32.1/50 ov, target 216) Bdesh Wmn won by 118 runs
Ire Women 237/6 v Zim Women 118 (37.5/50 ov, target 238) Ire Women won by 119 runs
SA Women 258/9 v Pak Women 195/6 (50/50 ov, target 259) SA Women won by 63 runs
