By Leonard Ratnayake in Birmingham
England laid down an early marker in the ICC Women’s World Cup, posting a formidable 222 for 1 against Sri Lanka in the tournament opener at Edgbaston on Thursday.
The day began with concerns over the weather, as heavy rain and gloomy overcast conditions threatened to disrupt the much-anticipated opening encounter. However, contrary to forecasts that predicted unsettled weather well into the afternoon, the skies gradually cleared to reveal bright sunshine, providing ideal conditions for cricket.
Having won the toss, Sri Lanka elected to bowl first, a decision largely influenced by their successful run chases in both warm-up matches leading into the tournament. Yet their plans were disrupted before a ball was bowled, as a delay caused by a sightscreen visibility issue pushed back the start of play.
The interruption appeared to affect Sri Lanka more than England. With time lost before the start, the fielding side found themselves under pressure to maintain the over rate, forcing frequent bowling changes. Even after ten overs, Sri Lanka remained six minutes behind the required rate.
England’s opening pair took full advantage of a lacklustre Sri Lankan bowling performance. The bowlers struggled to find consistency in line and length, allowing the English batters to score freely from the outset. England raced along at nearly ten runs an over during the powerplay, placing immediate pressure on the Sri Lankan attack.
Sri Lanka’s troubles were compounded by missed opportunities in the field. Amy Jones, in particular, enjoyed two crucial lifelines. The wicketkeeper-batter was first dropped near the square-leg boundary off a delivery from captain Chamari Atapattu before Sugandika Kumari failed to hold onto a difficult return catch. Those missed chances proved costly as Jones capitalised on the reprieves.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 14th over when young pacer Malki Madara provided Sri Lanka with a much-needed success. This time Jones failed to make the most of a third opportunity, and Atapattu completed the catch to end a damaging opening partnership. By then, however, England had already surged to 135 for 1, a score that left Sri Lanka facing an uphill battle.
Jones’ aggressive knock of 53 from just 38 deliveries laid the foundation for England’s imposing total. At the other end, Danni Wyatt-Hodge produced a superb innings, combining power with precision to dominate the Sri Lankan bowlers. She brought up a magnificent unbeaten century, finishing on 105 from only 62 balls, striking boundaries at regular intervals and ensuring England never lost momentum.
Despite rotating their bowlers in search of breakthroughs, Sri Lanka were unable to stem the flow of runs or build any sustained pressure after the lone wicket. The English batters continued to find gaps with ease and punished anything short or wide.
By the close of the innings, England had amassed a commanding 222 for 1, placing themselves firmly in control of the contest and leaving Sri Lanka with a daunting chase in the World Cup opener.
England 222/1 (20 overs)
Danni Wyatt-Hodge 105* (62), Amy Jones 53 (38)
Malki Madara 1 wicket
England’s powerful batting display now leaves Sri Lanka needing something special with the bat to begin their World Cup campaign on a winning note.
Be the first to comment