Deandra Dottin slammed an unbeaten 84 runs to steer West Indies women to an easy 5-wicket win over the hosts, Sri Lanka women at R. Premadasa Stadium in their 1st ODI played on Wednesday.
The stand-in skipper Eshani Lokusuriyage won the toss of coin and elected to bat. The hosts got off to a stunning start with their opening pair Prasadini Weerakkody and Lasanthi Madushani adding 79 runs for the 1st wicket. Weerakkody was the first to be dismissed when she was caught and bowled by off-spinner Anisa Mohammed for a top-score of 42 in 70 deliveries. Two balls later, Sri Lanka lost their other set batswomen Lasanthi Madushani for 23 due to some poor running between the wickets.
Sri Lanka women continued to lose wickets which saw the downfall of the innings. 17-year old right-arm off-break bowler, Hayley Matthews wrecked through the Lankan middle order comprised of Shashikala Siriwardene, Chathurani Gunawardene and skipper Eshani. Experienced Sripali Weerakkody made an invaluable knock of 24 in 38 without giving her wicket away to give some respect to the Lankan score. All 10 wickets fell within 70 runs as the Windies came back to the game brilliantly due to their accurate bowling and exceptional fielding. Sadly for the hosts, four of their batswomen were dismissed by run-outs.
Chasing a solitary target of 150 runs in 50 overs, Windies were giving a major scare by the Lankan opening fast-bowling pair of Eshani Lokusuriyage and Sripali Weerakkody as they removed the top three batswomen for just 10 runs including the prized scalp of Stafanie Taylor.
Right-handed Deandra Dottin and skipper Melissa Aguilleira managed to take their team to safety with a match-winning stand of 70 runs for the 5th wicket. Aguilleira stroked 30 runs off 48 balls with two fours while Dottin remained in the crease to score the winning runs as she made an unbeaten 113-ball 84 including 9 boundaries. The visitors reached the target comfortably with 5 wickets and 59 balls to spare.
West Indies women now lead the 4-match ODI series, 1-0. The 2nd ODI will be worked out on 15th May at the same venue.
Chief Scores:
Sri Lanka women – 149 all out in 49.5 overs: Prasadini Weerakkody 40, Lasanthi Madushani 23, Sripali Weerakkody 24*, Hayley Matthews 3/19, Anisa Mohammed 2/15.
West Indies women – 153/5 in 40.1 overs: Deandra Dottin 84*, Melissa Aguileira 30, Eshani Lokusuriyage 2/4.
