Chamari, Harshitha and Sugandika script historic T20I series win

Sri Lanka Women cricketers celebrate their historic T20I series victory over South Africa  

Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama put together a defining stand of 97

• Sri Lanka Women beat South Africa Women to win bilateral T20I series 2-1

Sri Lanka Women, led by Chamari Athapaththu, came from behind to record a historic women’s bilateral T20I series win against South Africa Women for the first time when they won the deciding third game by four wickets at East London’s Buffalo Park on Wednesday. The win meant that Sri Lanka Women took the three-match series 2-1. Sugandika Kumari led the way with the ball, taking three wickets for 24 runs, and Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama slammed quick half-centuries to see Sri Lanka over the line.

Chasing 156 for victory, Sri Lanka lost Vishmi Gunaratne in the second over for 1, but then had a 97-run stand between Athapaththu and Samarawickrama, which took them to 102, leaving them with just 54 to get from 7.2 overs. Athapaththu took the lead in the run-scoring. She hit 73 in 46 balls, with seven fours and five sixes to put Sri Lanka in the ascendance. Samarawickrama was an able ally, scoring 54 not out in 43 balls (4 fours, 1 six), helping Sri Lanka get in front alongside Athapaththu and then completing the job after a bit of a rush of wickets, with five balls to spare.

Earlier, after South Africa were asked to bat at the toss, Laura Wolvaardt and Nadine de Klerk took the lead with the bat, with Anneke Bosch chipping in with a useful cameo. The Wolvaardt-de Klerk partnership was worth 54 in just under six overs which put South Africa in a strong position. It ended when Kumari, Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler of the night, sent Wolvaardt back for a 47-ball 56 (8 fours). For Wolvaardt, who came into the game on the back of her first T20I century in the series-opener, it was the 11th half-century in the format. Kumari, who had earlier sent back Tazmin Brits, added Eliz-mari Marx’s wicket to her bag to finish with 3 for 24. Inoshi Priyadharshani (1/18) and Kavisha Dilhari (1/22) were impressive with the ball too. Athapaththu was Player of the Match and Wolvaardt, Player of the Series.

Sri Lankans next play a 50 overs-a-side tour game against a South African XI on Saturday before the three-match ODIs start on 9 April. Scores: South Africa Women 155-6 (20) (Laura Wolvaardt 56, Anneke Bosch 27, Nadine de Klerk 44*, Sugandika Kumari 3/24) Sri Lanka Women 156-6 (19.1) (Chamari Athapaththu 73, Harshitha Samarawickrama 54*, Nadine de Klerk 2/25)