Chamari pilots Sri Lanka to historic series win over England

Sri Lanka women’s cricket team with officials after historic T- 20 Series win over England. (Pic courtesy ECB)

Sri Lanka women’s cricket team led by Chamari Athapaththu created history when they recorded first ever T-20 series win over England on Wednesday in Derby, England. Sri Lanka lasses recorded seven wicket win over England with 18 balls to spare in their last T-20 game held in Derby to gain a 2-1 series win. This victory was very special as it was recorded in England against top class England team and also gained points for the ICC rankings.

Once again skipper Chamari Athapaththu was the heroine winning both player of the match and player of the series awards with her excellent all round performances . Sri Lanka lasses chasing the target of 117 won comfortably with in 17 overs with 7 wickets in hand and skipper Athapaththu was leading the way scoring 44 in 28 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes while as an off spin bowler she was able to pick 3 for 21 in her 4 over spell.

Earlier England women were all out for 116 with one over to spare while Maia Bouchier was top scorer with 23 and Amy Jones (20), Danielle Gibson (21) made useful knocks but that was not enough to make a challenging total for Sri Lanka women. Apart from Chamari’s 3 wicket haul experience fast bowler Udeshika Probodhani and Kavisha Dilhari took two wickets each to restrict England for 116.

The openers Chamari Athapaththu hit 44 while wicket keeper Anushka Sanjeewani scored 20 in 16 balls with a four gave a solid start adding 65 runs in 6.4 overs which gave big boost to reach the target with three overs to spare. Harshitha Samarawickrama (26 in 28 balls ande Hasini Perera hit 9 in 13 balls and both struck one boundary each to gain their win in 17 th over while Sri Lankan lasses celebrated historic win in England and Sri Lankan spectators were present to see this great victory.

Sri Lanka women’s team specialist coach Malinda Warnapura said this win gave much needed boost for Sri Lanka women’s cricket . We had good commitment and always played very good cricket and that is our success story.

We knew our girls talent and players knew their responsibility while supporting staff headed by head coach Rumesh Ratnayake gave much needed encouragement and we got this historic win added former Sri Lanka opener Malinda Warnapura. playing against England in English conditions wass not easy but our girls did really well added Warnapura.

We came to England after having successful ten day training session at Galle International cricket stadium. Our girls practice hard while Sri Lanka Cricket gave all infrastructure facilities and very easy to come on this tour with this set up said Warnapura.

I think our girls have good confidence and coaches duty is to give confidence for players. We defeated New Zealand 2-1 at ODI series before this tour and our players confidence was very high after that victory. Playing against top teams like New Zealand and England always give good exposure.

The head coach Rumesh Ratnayake always tried to provide good environment both in and off the field especially and he always gives a free hand for the women’s players said Warnapura.

The head coach Rumesh Ratnayake took great pains to make powerful women’s team . He made his views to the srilanka sports.com web site and said “my duty is to provide good environment for the players while they did everything with our support. We knew they can do well and build up good confidence. we are now focused on three match ODI series.

Skipper Chamari Athapaththu made good leadership and she always guided her team very well. “I knew my girls have good potential and they proved it with this great win said most successful player of the tournament Chamari Athapaththu. I think always we can’t depend from only from me and now I can play without any pressure and today all my players also did their part very well and that was the success story behind this victory . Now we have to face three ODI match series against England which will commence on 9th at Chester –Le Street and that is new format and we have to adjust very well and hope to put up a better show, said skipper Chamari.

Sri Lanka women lost to England by 12 runs with D/L method in their 1st T-20 game, second T-20 Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets and third game won by 7 wickets to seal the series 2-1.

Chief scores

At Derby -third T-20 game

England women’s 116 all out in 17 overs Maia Bouchier 23, Heather Knight 18, Amy Jones 20, Danielle Gibson 21,Sarah Glenn 16*, Insohi Priyadharshani 1/15, Udeshika Probodhani 2/15, Chamari Athapaththu 3/21, Inoka Ranaweera 1/20, Kavisha Dilhari 2/16,

Sri Lanka women’s 117 for 3 wickets in 17 overs Chamari Athapaththu 44, Anushka Sanjeewani 20, Harshitha Samarawickrama 26*,Vishmi Gunaratne 8, Hasini Perera 9*, Sarah Glenn 2/23, Alice Capsey 1/21

The post Chamari pilots Sri Lanka to historic series win over England appeared first on DailyNews.