SL team to leave for Zimbabwe next Monday

Sri Lanka Women’s cricket team will leave for Zimbabwe on Monday (15) to take part in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier which is scheduled to be held from November 21 to December 5 in Harare.

Sri Lanka is grouped with Netherlands, Ireland, West Indies, Papua New Guinea in Group A while the five-team Group B comprises Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, USA, and Zimbabwe. The top three teams from the qualifier will progress to the 2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand from March 4 to April 3. The 17-member Sri Lanka squad picked for the World Cup Qualifier went into a bio-bubble from last November 3 at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel till their departure to Zimbabwe next Monday.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka women’s team captain Chamari Atapattu who was involved with the Women’s Big bash League (WBBL) in Australia signed off her final game with Perth Scorchers with an unbeaten 70 off 42 balls (eight fours, two sixes) against Sydney Thunder at the Adelaide Oval on last Thursday. She will return to Colombo today (13) to join the Sri Lanka squad for the world cup qualifier. The 31-year-old left-hand batter is very confident of her present form before the world cup qualifier. She was back in Melbourne after her successful game against Sydney Thunder said “ I am very happy to end WBBL with a higher note and it always gives a big boost to me for the world cup qualifier. We couldn't play more matches to practice but this WBBL as well as the last Women's IPL gave me good experience."

Chamari shared an unbroken 135-run partnership with Beth Mooney (83) off 53 balls for Scorchers to post an imposing total of 184/2, but rain deprived the Scorchers of their third straight win and the game ended with a no-decision. “I have missed three matches in this WBBL but am happy to return home with a good knock during my last game. I batted at number four and most of the time missed the chance to stay for a long time at the wicket but was happy to associate with my teammates. Especially I had a chance to share with world experienced players and good exposure from this type of tournament added Chamari Atapattu. Perth Scorchers already reached second place of the points table with 14 points after eleven matches and Melbourne Renegades is on top with 16 points.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has a well-balanced squad with youth and experienced players and they are looking forward to doing well at the world cup qualifier. The head coach Hashan Tillakaratne and his support staff give good support to the squad for their preparation.

Sri Lanka will meet Netherland on November 23 in their opening qualifier game; followed by matches against Ireland on Nov. 25, West Indies on Nov. 27, and against Papua New Guinea on Nov. 29.

Sri Lanka Women's squad: Chamari Atapattu (capt), Harshitha Madavi (Vice-Captain), Inoka Ranaweera, Nilakshi de Silva, Hasini Perera, Sugandika Kumari, Oshadi Ranasinghe, Ama Kanchana, Udeshika Probodhani, Achini Kulasuriya, Anushka Sanjeewani, Kavisha Dilhari, Tharika Sewwandi, Prasadini Weerakkody, Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Rajapaksha, Sachini Nisansala.