Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin stroked brilliant unbeaten half-centuries to guide the visiting West Indies women’s team to a close 18-run win (D/L method) over the hosts, Sri Lanka women in their 3rd ODI match played at R. Premadasa Stadium on Monday.
Sri Lanka women’s regular skipper Chamari Atapattu returned to the team after recovering from her finger injury but she failed to win the toss and her counterpart Melissa Aguillera elected to bat first. The Windies openers got off to a stunning start putting 49 runs before Hayley Matthews was clean bowled by left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari for 22. The 24-year old spinner struck twice in the 22nd over removing set-batswomen, Kycia Knight for 34 and Melissa Aguillera for no score as the visitors were reeling at 64 for 3 in 22 overs.
Experienced pair of Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin got together to steer the innings in the remaining 28 overs to smash 151 runs amongst them to guide the Caribbean score to a respectable 215 for 3 in 50 overs. Taylor struck 9 fours in her 112-ball knock of 86 while Dottin scored her 2nd half-ton in the series as she stroked 69 in just 72 balls and her 
innings comprised of 5 fours and a six. Apart of Sugandika Kumari none of the bowlers took wickets.
Chasing 216 runs to win, Sri Lanka women’s openers, Chamari Atapattu and Prasadini Weerakkody added 35 runs for the 1st wicket but wickets continued to tumble before rain interrupted play in the 25th over when the Lankan score was 99 for 4. Atapattu made a slow 59-ball 25 while Yashoda Mendis chipped in with 16.
The revised target was 209 off 46 overs and when bad light brought a premature end to the game around 4.30pm, Sri Lanka women were 170 for 8 in 40.2 overs, 18 runs behind the D/L par score. Left-handed Nipuni Hansika was unbeaten on 50. She stroked only 2 boundaries in her innings. Right-arm off-spinner Anisa Mohammed and Afy Fletcher took 2 wickets apiece.
West Indies women now lead the 4-match series 2-1 with the final ODI coming up on 20th May at the same venue.
Chief Scores:
West Indies Women – 215/3 in 50 overs: Stafanie Taylor 86, Deandra Dottin 69, Kycia Knight 34, Sugandika Kumari 3/48.
Sri Lanka Women – 170/8 in 40.2 overs: Chamari Atapattu 25, Nipuni Hansika 50*, Anisa Mohammed 2/30, Afy Fletcher 2/25.
