Atapattu and Siriwardena shine as Sri Lanka stun England by 10 wickets

Thursday, 20 February 2020 01:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka produced the perfect finale to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup preparation, starring with both bat and ball in the 10-wicket win over England.

England started poorly with Danni Wyatt out in the second over, Anushka Sanjeewani with the catch off Shashikala Siriwardena’s first ball.

The top order quickly collapsed, Fran Wilson run out for 18 after being promoted to three before opener Amy Jones holed out to Atapattu on the fence, giving Siriwardena her second wicket.

England found themselves at 55 for four at the end of the eighth, a mix-up at the crease proving costly as Lauren Winfield was run out by Kavisha Dilhari.

Katherine Brunt was the next to fall victim to Siriwardena’s nagging bowling as she was caught by Nilakshika Silva for a two-ball duck, before England were reduced to 80 for six after 14 overs when Beaumont was bowled by Atapattu for 23.

Before long Atapattu had claimed her second wicket, bowling Anya Shrubsole for nine and not even Heather Knight could save England this time around as the captain was dismissed for 19 by Siriwardena.

Siriwardena played a key role in restricting England to 122 for nine with four wickets, but it was captain Atapattu who took the final – and her third – scalp when Sarah Glenn was caught by Dilhari. It wasn’t just with the ball that Sri Lanka impressed, as Atapattu and Hasini Madushika’s unbeaten 123-run opening partnership secured their stunning 10-wicket victory, the captain putting on a particularly impressive show of hitting eight fours and five sixes.

England’s Knight said: “The defeat is disappointing. We were way off the pace today.

“Fair play to Sri Lanka, we saw some outstanding batting from them. They bowled well too with their spinners bowling quick into the wicket, which we didn’t react fast enough to.

“We weren’t ruthless enough with the bat which can cost you in T20 cricket with it being such a quick game. It’s better that it happens now than in the World Cup and I think we’ll learn a lot of lessons from today.”