Weak batting, rain undermine WI Women
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CMC): EST I NDIES Women were once again let down by weak batting as they slumped to a f i v e - r u n d e f e a t t o S r i L a n k a Wo m e n under the Duckworth/Lewis method, in a rain-affected affair yesterday.
Defending a paltry 110, West Indies allowed the hosts a healthy start and found themselves behind on Duckworth/Lewis when rain ended the contest prematurely in the 16th over at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka Women lost Yasoda Mendis without scoring in the second over, but rebounded to be 52 for one in the eighth over, thanks to a 46-run stand between Dilani Surangika and captain Chamari Jayangani.
The experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Surangika struck three fours and a six off a mere 21 deliveries, while Jayangani
Wfaced 26 balls for her 17 and hit three boundaries. With the score on 52, however, both fell in the space of two deliveries in successive overs and West Indies Women were back in contention when left-armer Stacy-Ann King, who claimed two for 16, removed Nipuni Hansika and Hasini Perera, both without scoring in the tenth over.
SNEAKED AHEAD
Sri Lanka Women fought back through a 21-run, sixth wicket partnership, courtesy of Shashikala Siriwardene, 17 not out, and Eshani Kaushalya, who struck 16 from 12 balls.
The stand pulled the innings around so that when the rain arrived, the hosts had sneaked ahead, with the result giving them a precious 1-0 lead in the threematch series.
Off-spinner Anisa Mohammed was the other bowler to impress with two for 15.
Earlier, opener Stafanie Taylor propped up the innings with a top-score of 40 as West Indies limped to 109 for six off 20 overs, after they were sent in.
The right-handed Taylor counted four fours off 41 deliveries and got support from captain Merissa Aguilleira, who chipped in with a busy 28 off 30 balls.
West Indies Women started horribly when they lost opener Kycia Knight (4) and Deandra Dottin (4) in the first over to slide to eight for two.
Ta y l o r t h e n l e d a r e c o v e r y e f f o r t , stitching up the innings with two partnerships. She put on 32 for the third wicket with Britney Cooper (17) and, when the visitors slipped to 45 for four in the tenth, added a further 45 for the fifth wicket with Aguilleira who struck two fours in her knock.