England finish on top with win over Sri Lanka

Davina Perrin led the England run chase with a half-century

England Women players celebrate their victory over Sri Lanka Women

Sanjana Kavindi and Ashani Kaushalya gave Sri Lanka Women an excellent start by posting 50

Under-19 Women’s Tri-Nation T20 series

England Women cricketers finished as the top team in the ongoing Under-19 Women’s Tri-Nation T20 series when they beat Sri Lanka Women by six wickets in the final match of the T20 tournament played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Hambantota on Wednesday.

The win saw England finish on top of the standings with three wins and one loss out of four matches. Sri Lanka who won their first two matches but lost the next two ended up second, while Australia Women with one win and three losses were third.

England rested their skipper Josie Grove for this game, but Katie Jones who captained the side proved an able leader winning her first outing at the helm.

Sri Lanka threw away an excellent start of 50 off 42 balls given by their openers Sanjana Kavindi (20) and Ashani Kaushalya (24), when the rest of the batters failed to continue the momentum and eventually they ended with a below par total of 126-9. Sri Lanka’s total could have been even smaller had not England provided them with the luxury of 25 extras (that included 16 wides) which was the highest score. 

England came strongly into the game after breaking the opening partnership with excellent work on the field assisted by some poor cricket on the part of Sri Lanka.

When it came for England’s turn to bat they were off to a flier with openers Davina Perrin and Erin Thomas racing away to 84 off 58 balls. Perrin went on to reach her second fifty of the tournament making 54 off 34 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes) and Thomas 27 off 25 balls.

After such a beginning getting the remaining runs was a walk in the park for England as they reached their target in 14.3 overs with Charis Pavely playing a cameo knock of 24* off nine balls (2 fours, 2 sixes).

The three teams will play a 50-over one-day tournament at the Galle Stadium starting on 5 April. Sri Lanka play Australia in the first game followed by the Australia-England match on 7 April. The tournament concludes with Sri Lanka taking on England on 9 April.    

Scores: Sri Lanka Under-19 Women 126-9 (20) (Sanjana Kavindi 20, Ashani Kaushalya 24, Rashmika Sewwandi 21*, Extras 25, Charlotte Lambert 2/23, Ava Lee 2/19)

England Under-19 Women 127-4 (14.3) (Davina Perrin 54, Erin Thomas 27, Charis Pavely 24*, Hiruni Hansika 2/21)