Sri Lanka beat New Zealand in first Women’s T20

CHRISTCHURCH: The Sri Lanka women’s team were able to thoroughly beat New Zealand in the first T20 of the three-match series.

After losing the ODI series 2-0, Sri Lanka got their revenge in the first T20, thanks to an incredible bowling attack led by Malki Madara. The fast bowler took three wickets in the game, including the two highest scorers, Kiwi skipper Suzie Bates and Emma McLeod, who scored 21 and 44 respectively. Before she bowled McLeod, which ended in New Zealand’s innings, Madara also took the penultimate wicket, dismissing Eden Carson in the same over, just four balls earlier.

Sri Lanka’s Inoshi Priyadharshani and Kavisha Dilhari also had two wickets each, with the latter of the two taking both her wickets in the eight over, including the dismissal of Izzy Sharp for a duck. Sugandika Kumari and Chamari Athapaththu had a wicket each as well, with the former of the two dismissing Rosemary Mair for a duck.

New Zealand only managed to put up a total of 101 runs, a score that Sri Lanka surpassed in just 14.1 overs.

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Sri Lanka skipper Athapaththu led the chase, scoring an unbeaten 64 runs off just 48 deliveries, hitting an incredible nine fours and two sixes in the process. It marked the 13th half century in the format of her storied career.

Jess Kerr was the only Kiwi to take any wickets, dismissing Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama, who were both caught out. Kavisha Dilhari scored 12 runs before she was run out, and Nilakshika Silva contributed another unbeaten 12, to the successful 102 run chase.

Madara was named player of the match for her three wickets, which she took in 3.5 overs while conceding only 14 runs.

Sri Lanka will now have the opportunity to win the series on Sunday, March 16 on the same pitch. However, if New Zealand are able to take the second game, the decider will be played on Tuesday, March 18, at Dunedin

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