The first Women’s T20I of the New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka 2023 witnessed a low-scoring contest at the P Sara Oval where the visitors emerged victorious by five wickets.
The decision of New Zealand to bowl first after winning the toss paid of well as the hosts struggled to build momentum in their innings, posting a total of 106/9 in their allocated 20 overs. Vishmi Rajapaksha top-scored for the home side with 26 runs off 28 deliveries, while Anushka Sanjeewani (18) and Oshadi Ranasinghe (18) contributed valuable runs.
Leigh Kasperek, Eden Carson and Amelia Kerr stood out with the ball for New Zealand, all of them taking two wickets and containing the Sri Lankan batters effectively.
In the paltry chase, the White Ferns encountered a few early setbacks, but they managed to maintain composure and reached the target with 7 balls remaining. Senior cricketer Suzie Bates played a crucial role, scoring 44 runs off 47 deliveries to anchor the innings. Kerr’s quickfire knock of 34 runs off 28 balls provided the necessary impetus for the tourists. Bates, who also took a wicket, was named the Player of the Match.
Inoshi Fernando was the standout bowler for Sri Lanka Women, claiming three wickets and posing a challenge to the New Zealand batters. However, her efforts were not enough to secure victory for her team. With this win, New Zealand took a 1-0 lead in the series and will look to build on their positive start while Sri Lanka shall aim to regroup and come back stronger in the next match.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
