Sri Lanka, with Sugandika Kumari leading the way with the ball and Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama slamming quick half-centuries, came from behind to win a historic women’s bilateral T20I series for the first time against South Africa. The four-wicket win in the decider on Wednesday meant they took home the three-T20I series 2-1.Chasing 156 for victory, Sri Lanka lost Vishmi Gunaratne in the second over for 1, but then had a 97-run stand between Athapaththu and Samarawickrama, which took them to 102, leaving them with just 54 to get from 7.2 overs.Athapaththu took the lead in the run-scoring. She hit 73 in 46 balls, with seven fours and five sixes at East London’s Buffalo Park, to put Sri Lanka in the ascendance. Samarawickrama was an able ally, as she scored 54 not out in 43 balls, helping Sri Lanka get in front alongside Athapaththu and then completing the job after a bit of a rush of wickets with five balls to spare.
Earlier, South Africa was invited to bat first, and their openers, Skipper Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits (7), added a 37-run stand in 4.3 overs. Wolvaardt, leading from the front, notched her second half-century of the series, scoring 56 runs in 47 balls with 8 fours, applying pressure from the start.
After the 10th over, South Africa maintained a run rate of over 6, but the top order couldn’t sustain that momentum. However, Nadine de Klerk, the number six batter, played a blistering unbeaten knock of 44 runs off 25 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes. She scored 27 runs in the 19th over bowled by fast bowler Udeshika Probodani, striking 3 consecutive sixes and two fours, which guided them to a total of 155 for 6 wickets in 20 overs. Udeshika’s 19th over completely changed the innings.
Sri Lanka started with leg spinner Sugandika Kumari, who finished with best figures of 3 for 24, while Udeshika Probodani conceded 49 runs in her 4-over spell, taking a solitary wicket.
In the next game of this series, Sri Lanka will meet South Africa XI on the 6th, which is the only warm-up One-Dayer before the three-match ODI series commencing on April 9th in East London, South Africa.
Chief scores
South Africa women’s 155 for 6 wickets in 20 overs Laura Wolvaardt 56,Aneke Bosch 27,Nadine de Klerk 44*,Sugandika Kumari 3/24,Inoshi Priyadharshani 1/18, Udeshika Probodani 1/49,Kaveesha Dilhari 1/
Sri Lanka 156 for 6 (Athapaththu 73, Samarawickrama 54, de Klerk 2-25) 22.
(D.R)
