By Mahendra Ratnaweera
Colombo, Harshitha Samarawickrama led a calculated assault on the South African bowlers as she and Kavisha Dilhari with a 100 run liaison kept Sri Lanka’s hopes alive in the third match of the women’s ODI triangular at the Premadasa Stadium today.
Coming together at 90 for 3 in the 18th over and seemingly behind the required rate, Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari posted their 100 partnership off 127 balls.
“Kavisha was the one who was looking for the boundary option while I looked to push for twos”, Samarawickrama said. When Dilhari came to be dismissed at 218 in the 44th over it was apparent that the South African women were resigned to receiving their second defeat in as many games.
Samarawickrama next departed for 77 her first ODI 50 at home made off 93 balls studded with eight fours.
Dilhari was at her best getting 61 off 75 balls after a sluggish start. Her six fours and one six was the key contributor for Sri Lanka to romp home.
Nonkululeko Mlaba whose spin was seen as a potential weapon to stifle the local chase was not effective as anticipated.
On the spin bowling department it was the Sri Lankan debutant Dewmi Vihanga was the star.
The big made 19 year old had her first bowl in the ninth over was not brought in thereafter until the 23rd over of the innings. The Giriulla lass finished with 3 for 41 off her impressive full allotment of bowling in her first international outing.
Malki Madara the only seamer picked had a rich haul of 4 for 50, an indication of her getting better with each outing.
The South African innings never fired on all cylinders as Atapattu with some judicious bowling changes kept them in check. Lara Goodall with 46 and Annerie Dercksen with a well made 61 off 60 balls gave respectability to their innings in their quest for a win. Chloe Tryon’s late order 35 was crucial in bolstering the total. The South Africans must now win both their two remaining games to entertain any hopes of going into the final.
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