PREVIEW

By Srian Obeyesekere

It will be a soul searching must click challenge for sixth placed Sri Lanka’a top four batters from skipper Chamari Athapaththu to co-opener Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Vishmi Gunaratne today against second placed England if the Lankans are to make it to the last four in what boils down to literally a Now or Never crunch game for the hosting nation where it will particularly fall on the Lankan captain as never before to produce the much needed runs to outsmart the head to head 18 to 1 win second placed strong favourites to make it to the last four in the crucial face off at Colombo’s R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.

In that thrust to sound the winning board following a loss to India and no decision one point from the rain abandoned game against Australia, where big runs will dictate the outcome, it will be on Chamari Athapaththu to cut off the rashness that cost her wicket against India, and play a long innings if Sri Lanka is to make it where No 3 Harshitha Samarawickrama carries the much needed composure to carry forward an innings, but needs the support from the others to keep it going against a compatible England attack.
Similarly, the Lankan spin heavy top bowling attack spearheaded by Inoka Ranaweera whose 4 for 76 had India on the ropes but for that seventh wicket great escape that is inexcusable of the Lankans inability to have driven it home from that grip, will be a threat to England whose trump card will be Heather Knight basking in a 200 run aggregate against the Lankans and an inform 78 against him Bangladesh of their two world cup wins, the other being crushing New Zealand.
Sri Lanka’s other wicket taking spinner is Udeshika Prabhodini with the probing pace of upfront Achini Kulasuriya capable of surprising England on a backyard early on pace lively surface largely batting friendly, but progressively taking turn which therein makes it a 50-50 equation where skill will be the reign name of the game with the toss as dictating the course.

Sri Lanka squad: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunarathne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kaveesha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani, Imesha Dulani, Dewmi Vihanga, Piumi Wathsala, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Dasanayaka, Udeshika Prabodani, Malki Madara, Achini Kulasooriya

England
Nat Sciver-Brunt (captain), Em Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-Hodge.