By Srian Obeyesekere
Sri Lanka Women had it easy making light of the West Indies Women handing out a 6-wicket thrashing with 95 balls to spare in their first ODI played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota yesterday.
The West Indies Women, put into bat, totaled 195 in 47.1 overs coming a cropper against the twosome of Sugandika Kumari and Kavisha Dilhari who claimed three wickets each.
Hayley Matthews top scored for the West Indians with 38 runs inclusive of six boundaries while Stafanie Taylor made 33 runs with three boundaries.
Sri Lanka Women got off to a telling 88-run start with openers Vishmi Gunaratne, who made 40 and Chamari Atapattu 38, going after the bowling. Following Gunaratne’s exit, Athapaththu and No. 3 Harshitha Samarawickrema took the Lankans to 100 before the Lankan captain was dismissed having struck 6 boundaries.
Samarawickrema went on to make an unbeaten 40 in adding 73 runs with Hasini Perera, who top scored with 43, for the fourth wicket.
CHIEF SCORES:
West Indies Women 195 (47.1 Overs) (Hayley Matthews 38, Shemaine Campbelle 27, Stafanie Taylor 33, Sugandika Kumari 3/30, Kavisha Dilhari 3/41)
Sri Lanka Women 198/4 (34.1 Overs) (Vishmi Gunaratne 40, Chamari Atapattu 38, Harshitha Samarawickrema 44 n.o., Hasini Perera 43, Afy Fletcher 2/31, Aaliyah Alleyne 2/22)