Spinners Chamodi, Dewmi roll England over by 118 runs

Player of the Match Dewmi Vihanga receives her award from Match Referee Brendon Kuruppu 

Sumudu Nisansala and Sanjana Kavindi gave Sri Lanka a solid opening stand of 63

Chamodi Prabodha celebrates taking five England wickets

Rashmika Sewwandi celebrates her fifty

Spinners Chamodi Prabodha (left-arm spin) and Dewmi Vihanga (off-spin) spun Sri Lanka to a comprehensive 108-run win over England in the final match of the Under19 Women’s Tri-Nation ODI series which ended at the Galle Cricket Stadium yesterday.

The win saw Sri Lanka finish second in the three-nation ODI tournament to Australia with one win and one loss. Australia finished on top with wins over Sri Lanka and England while England who were the top team in the Under19 Women’s Tri-Nation T20I series ended third without a single win.

England, chasing a target of 227, were shot out for 118 by 14-year-old Chamodhi Prabodha from Monaragala who went on to take five wickets (5/42) and Dewmi Vihanga, who capped a fine all-round performance (25 runs and 4/43), to take the Player of the Match award.

Sri Lanka, winning the toss and batting first, were given a solid start by Sanjana Kavindi (27) and Sumudu Nisansala (27) who put on 63 off 98 balls when both fell in the 17th over to Sophia Smale. Sri Lanka once again recovered through a 54-run partnership off 66 balls for the fourth wicket between skipper Manudi Nanayakkara (25) and Dewmi Vihanga (25) when they fell victim to Charis Pavely.

Rashmika Sewwandi took matters into her own hands and counter-attacked the England bowlers to race to a brilliant 59 off 58 balls to get Sri Lanka over the 200-run mark. She batted with purpose and displayed a lot of power in her shots to reach the boundary on nine occasions.

At 224-7 in the 48th over, Sri Lanka looked good enough to get close to 250, but Arun Surenkumar struck two crucial blows in the 49th over to bring a hasty end to the Lankan innings.

Sri Lanka built good partnerships but when in control, the batters somehow found ways to get out and hand the advantage back to the opposition with some needless cricket.

Yesterday’s match brought to an end an Under19 Women’s Tri-Nation T20I and ODI series involving Sri Lanka, England, and Australia. England took the top spot in the T20I series, and Australia finished similarly in the ODI series. Sri Lanka were second in both series. – (ST)

Scores: Sri Lanka (U19) Women 226 (48.4) (Sanjana Kavindi 27, Sumudu Nisansala 27, Manudi Nanayakkara 25, Dewmi Vihanga 25, Rashmika Sewwandi 59, Arun Surenkumar 2/21, Sophia Smale 2/34, Charis Pavely 2/16)

England (U19) Women 118 (23.3) (Jodi Grewcock 26, Arun Surenkumar 25, Dewmi Vihanga 4/43, Chamodi Prabodha 5/42)