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Sri Lanka ‘A’ Women celebrate their unofficial WT20I series win against New Zealand ‘A’ Women
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Sri Lanka ‘A’ Women may have won the three-match unofficial WT20I series against New Zealand ‘A’ Women by a 2-1 margin, but after taking an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series, they simply lacked the killer instinct to seal the series 3-0, losing the third and final game rather tamely by five wickets at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
A succession of poor strokes and execution saw Sri Lanka ‘A,’ who won the toss and batted first, being shot out for a disappointing 78 in 16.5 overs. New Zealand ‘A’ knocked the runs off, losing five wickets to win with seven balls to spare.
Having outplayed New Zealand ‘A’ in the first two matches, Sri Lanka ‘A’ had a good opportunity to complete a whitewash of the series. But the intent was lacking and they allowed New Zealand ‘A’ to come back into the series and return home with a win under their belts.
New Zealand ‘A’ won a rain-hit unofficial WODI series 1-0 and Sri Lanka ‘A’ took the unofficial WT20I series 2-1.
The match winner for New Zealand ‘A’ was their Captain Jess Watkin, who led from the front to capture four wickets for four runs in 2.5 overs with her off-breaks and pick up the Player of the Match award. She was well supported by the rest of her bowlers, who took a wicket or two each with the exception of Hannah Rowe, who went wicketless.
With less scoreboard pressure, New Zealand ‘A’ had no problem overhauling Sri Lanka ‘A’s total, getting there in the 18th over although losing five wickets in the process.
The awards were presented by the Match Referee Mangala Jayasena.
Scores:
Sri Lanka ‘A’ Women 78 (16.5) (Sathya Sandeepani 16, Sanjana Kavindi 15, Sumudu Nisansala 15, Jess Watkin 4/4, Kayley Knight 2/5)
New Zealand ‘A’ Women 79-5 (18.5) (Kate Anderson 17, Prue Catton 30*, Sachini Nisansala 2/14, Pramudi Methsara 2/5)
Player of the Match Jess Watkin
Prue Catton (second from left), who guided New Zealand ‘A’ Women to victory, shakes hands with Sri Lanka ‘A’ players at the end of the match
