Thursday Jun 11, 2026
Thursday Jun 11, 2026
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Player of the Match Sri Lanka ‘A’ Women’s Captain
Sathya Sandeepani
Prue Catton added some muscle into the New Zealand ‘A’ batting with a 26-ball 25
The much stronger and experienced New Zealand ‘A’ Women were stunned by the youthful Sri Lanka ‘A’ Women side when they were beaten by three wickets in the first unofficial WODI played at the Rangiri Dambulla Cricket Stadium yesterday.
In a low scoring game, New Zealand ‘A’ scored 129-6 and Sri Lanka ‘A’ replied with 131-7 winning with three balls to spare.
It was a fine comeback by the local lasses after they were comprehensively beaten in the third and final unofficial WODI a few days ago to outsmart their much formidable opponents who had several players with plenty of T20 experience behind them.
In fact, Sri Lanka had five teenagers in their eleven and they performed splendidly to eke out the win.
Winning the toss and batting first New Zealand lost three wickets for 25 inside the first power play and were 41-4 after seven overs. Prue Catton (25) and JA Watkins (20) added a run-a-ball 38 for the fifth wicket. After them it was left to Hannah Rowe (10*) and Kate Gaging (35* off 27 balls, 6 fours) to get them to a decent total, cashing in on some poor fielding and catching by the Lankans to put together a partnership of 49* off 38 balls.
Seamer and skipper Sathya Sandeepani and left-arm spinners Sachini Nisansala and Chamudi Praboda were outstanding for Sri Lanka ‘A’ picking up two wickets apiece and tying down the free-scoring New Zealand ‘A’ batters with tight control and economy rates of 4, 3 and 7 respectively.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ also didn’t have things their own way losing their first four wickets for 55 by the 10th over including that of experienced Vishmi Gunaratne for 27. It was left to Piumi Wathsala to use her experience and guide Sri Lanka ‘A’ to victory. She shared a 39-run stand off 25 balls with Rashmika Sewwandi (26 off 16 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) to edge Sri Lanka close to their target.
Following Sewwandi’s dismissal with 12 runs still required, Wathsala (21* off 16 balls) was joined by Shashini Gimhani. The pair ensured that victory was achieved with Gimhani making the winning hit a six off the New Zealand ‘A’ captain Jess Watkin. Sandeepani took the Player of the Match award.
The second unofficial WT20I will be played at the same venue on 23 May. – [ST]
Scores:
New Zealand ‘A’ Women 129-6 (20) (Prue Catton 25, JA Watkins 20, Kate Gaging 35*, Chamodi Praboda 2/28, Sathya Sandeepani 2/12, Sachini Nisansala 2/12)
Sri Lanka ‘A’ Women 131-7 (19.3) (Vishmi Gunaratne 27, Piumi Wathsala 21*, Rashmika Sewwandi 26, Hannah Rowe 2/22, Kayley Knight 2/27)
