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The New Zealand ‘A’ Women cricketers celebrate their WODI series win
By Sa'adi Thawfeeq
New Zealand ‘A’ Women outshone the youthful Sri Lanka ‘A’ Women to win the decisive third and final unofficial WODI by 84 runs under the DLS method to pocket the three-match series 1-0 at the Rangiri Dambulla Cricket Stadium yesterday.
The first two matches ended in a no-result, with rain curtailing play.
It was a thoroughly professional performance by the tourists to outplay the hosts in their own conditions and pitches. New Zealand ‘A’ adapted to the conditions very fast, and it showed in the manner in which they performed yesterday.
Winning the toss for the first time in the series, New Zealand ‘A’ showed no hesitation in choosing to bat first and piled up a challenging total of 273-8. Sri Lanka ‘A’ could reply with only 149, being bowled out in 33.2 overs after their target was revised to 234 off 38 overs following a rain interruption in the seventh over when they had scored 25 without loss.
New Zealand ‘A’s match winners were the experienced trio with national colours – Kate Anderson, skipper Jess Watkin, and Bella Armstrong.
Anderson played the sheet anchor role, compiling a durable innings of 84 off 108 balls (6 fours), building up partnerships of 73 off 72 balls with Watkin (36 off 36, 5 fours) and 51 off 66 balls with Armstrong (59 off 57, 8 fours). Both Anderson and Armstrong were given ‘lives’ early in their innings and Sri Lanka ‘A’ were made to pay for it dearly.
Yet, for all Sri Lanka ‘A’ seemed to have the game under their control when the eighth New Zealand ‘A’ wicket fell at 234 in the 46th over. They, however, lost the plot in the final over bowled by left-arm spinner Tharuka Shehani, who had her figures spoilt by Kayley Knight when she smashed 26 runs (2 sixes, 3 fours) to give New Zealand ‘A’ the ascendency in the contest. Knight scored 38* off 22 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes) and Shehani ended up conceding 64 runs for her four wickets.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ were given a promising start by Vishmi Gunaratne and Sanjana Kavindi, who put on 67 off 80 balls. But once right-arm pacie Marama Downes trapped Gunaratne lbw for 23, the rest of the innings simply fell apart other than for Kavindi and Piumi Wathsala. Downes ran through the top order as four wickets fell for the addition of only four runs, and Sri Lanka ‘A’ slumped to 71-4.
Kavindi and Wathsala (24) added 49 off 51 balls, but once again, New Zealand ‘A’ broke through. Left-arm spinner Fran Jonas ended Kavindi’s excellent fighting innings of 79 off 73 balls (10 fours, 3 sixes). The rest of the batting showed little fight as Armstrong, bowling seam, helped herself to a hat-trick to go with her half-century and pick up the Player of the Match award.
For Sri Lanka ‘A,’ who fielded as many as four Under-19 players, it was a good exposure against strong opposition. The two teams will next meet in a three-match unofficial WT20I contest at the same venue commencing 21 May.
Scores:
New Zealand ‘A’ Women 273-8 (50) (Kate Anderson 84, Jess Watkin 36, Bella Armstrong 59, Kayley Knight 38*, Chamudi Praboda 2/37, Tharuka Shehani 4/64)
Sri Lanka ‘A’ Women 149 (33.2) (Vishmi Gunaratne 23, Sanjana Kavindi 79, Piumi Wathsala 24, Marama Downes 4/18, Bella Armstrong 3/39, Jess Watkin 2/3)
| Marama Downes wrecked the Sri Lanka ‘A’ Women’s top order with four wickets | Kate Anderson top-scored for New Zealand ‘A’ Women with 84 | Tharuka Shehani was the pick of the Sri Lanka ‘A’ Women’s bowling with four wickets |
| Player of the Match Bella Armstrong receives her award from match Referee Vanessa de Silva | Sanjana Kavindi played a lone hand for 79 for Sri Lanka ‘A’ Women |
