Skipper Lucy Hamilton stroked an unbeaten 56 as Australia made a fighting 7 wickets win over Sri Lanka in their under 19 Tri Nation T-20 cricket cricket fixture played at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
It was very close fight but Sri Lanka lasses made good fight once again until the last ball while captains knock hit by Lucy Hamilton which gave them favour for the first victory of the series.
Sri Lanka lasses made 132 for 7 wickets with opener Sanjana Kavindi top scored 39 in 29 balls with 8 fours well supported by skipper Manudi Nanayakkara who scored 19 in 18 balls with three fours. Juliette Morton and Maggie Clark took two wickets each for Australia team.
Australia under 19 players chasing a target of 133 runs reached 51 for 2 wickets after 8.2 overs but Sri Lanka bowlers put up good pressure. However skipper Lucy Hamilton stayed until the last over scoring unbeaten 56 guided them for victory. The wicket keeper Grace Lyons played a good supporting role to make 30 in 26 balls with 5 fours. Skipper Hamilton said they made few changes for this game to give others match exposure. We lost to Sri Lanka in our first game while this seven wickets win gave good boost for today’s game against England which will start from 2pm.
In fact this victory made good eye opener for Sri Lanka as they made few mistakes at fielding while middle order batters also struggled and they must rectify their errors to win the next match against England which scheduled to be held tomorrow at same venue .
Chief scores
Sri Lanka under 19 women’s 132 for 7 wickets in 20 overs Sanjana Kavindu 39, Dewmi Wijeratna 10, Hiruni Hansika 10, Manudi Nanayakkara 19, Rashmi Nethranjali 16, Sashmika Sewwandi 14*, Bonnie Berry 1/27, Tegan Williamson 1/7, Maggie Clark 2/18, Juliette Morton 2/12.
Australia under 19 women’s 133 for 3 wickets in 20 overs Ines McKeon 10, Grace Lions 30, Samara Dulwin 13, Luke Hamilton 56*, Ella Briscoe 14*, Rashmika Sewwandi 1/15, Shashini Gimhani 1/27.
Dhammika Ratnaweera reporting from Hambantota