Sri Lanka women’s under 19 team led by Manudi Nanayakkara will meet Australia under 19 team in their first ODI fixture which is scheduled to be played today at Galle International Cricket Stadium, commencing at 10 a.m.
After successful T-20 Tri Nation series between Australia and England Sri Lanka ready to take up this challenge while Manudi and her team coached by Mahesh Weerasinghe had a successful training session yesterday evening.
Manudi Nanayakkara the all rounder from Chilaw Marians CC said their team is having good match exposure during T-20 match series at Hambantota and the team has good all rounders to make good fight.
T-20 series we played with a good fighting spirit while our head coach Mahesh Weerasinghe, Assistant coach Umal Erandika, fielding coach Lasanthi Madushani and Manager Hemantha Devapriya always give encouragement to go forward.
Sri Lankan star batter Nethmi Senaratne who.got injured during T-20 series is not fit to play this ODI while other players are in good physical and mental fitness for this ODI series against Australia and England. We had knowledge about opponent teams after played T-20 series. We had two close calls against both teams but never underestimated them and our intention is to. be ready for next year s T-20 World Cup.
After winning Bangladesh tri nation and Hambantota T-20 match series all our players are keen to play this ODI series she said.
Meanwhile Australia and England teams also reached Galle from Hambantota yesterday and Australia team had a training session before today’s game.
Australia team head coach Kristen Beams said I had previous Sri Lanka experience as an Australian national team player and for the first time got chance as a coach with this young team.
I played from 2014 to 2016 and good memories of Sri Lanka and this time I am really enjoying with Australia under 19 team. Getting exposure on sub continent wickets like Sri Lanka always very important for next world cup in Malaysia and Thailand and we rotate our girls in every match to give experience.
Two different teams Sri Lanka and England as opponents is a good opportunity for the players and we never think about winning or losing said Kristen Beams and former National player. Jenny Gunn the former English player also one of the Assistant coaches of the under 19 Australia team.
Sri Lanka Cricket has made arrangements to give live TV coverage on Rupavahini Channel Eye from 9.45 a.m. each day.
Dhammika Ratnaweera reporting from Galle