Sri Lanka under 19 women take on USA today
Sri Lanka under 19 women’s cricket team led by Vishmi Gunaratne is expected to start on a winning note when they play their first game against USA at the ICC world cup tournament today (14) Binoni, South Africa commencing 5.15 pm (Sri Lanka time)
Sri Lanka women’s 19 cricketers are in good nick after winning two warm up games against Zimbabwe and Scotland while they wanted to repeat their performances in this opening game against USA .Sri Lanka will meet Bangladesh on January16 followed by Vs Australia on 18th in their league round ..
Skipper Vishmi Gunaratne is in good form after hitting math winning knock of unbeaten 39 against Scotland which was played in Midrand, South Africa . Dewmi Vihanga the off spinner from young Lionesses team really performed well at the Scotland game when she bagged 4 for 17 including a hat trick while leg spinner Vidushika Perera took 3 for 18 to contain
Scotland team .The skipper Vishmi Gunaratne who is the only International experienced player having played with National team , said winning two warm up games made real boost before the world cup main tournament and league round and most important is to adjust to the situation.
Shashikala Siriwardena the former Sri Lanka women’s team skipper is the head coach of the young Lionesses team and she is the only player having previous South Africa conditions experience . The Sri Lanka team is in good shape and their training is up to schedule and preparation is always very high, said Manager Indrani Ariyaratne.
Meanwhile USA team led by Geethika Kodali while former experience West Indies stroke maker Shivnaarine Chandrepaul is giving his service to young USA ladies team .USA team couldn’t underestimate as they have eleven of 15 in the squad have experience in international cricket with most of them forming the core of the USA side that finished eighth in the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in September 2022
This inaugural Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup is set to be very competitive with 16 teams divided into four groups in action while 41 matches are scheduled to be played during a 16 days period . ( the final will be held on January 29th at Potchefstroom …The top three sides from each group qualify for the ‘Super Six’, where the teams will be pooled into two groups of six. Group 1 will have the teams from Groups A and D, while Group 2 will have sides from Groups B and C.
The top two sides from each group will then progress to the semi-finals, both of which will be played in Potchefstroom on January 27. The final will take place at the same venue on January 29. All the matches will be played across two venues each at Benoni and Potchefstroom.
Both the semi-finals and the finals have a reserve day in place. Two Sri Lankan officials Vanessa De Silva (match referee) and Dedunu De Silva (umpire) will also be there
* Sri Lanka under 19 women’s squad * Vishmi Gunaratne (capt), Dahami Sanethma, Umaya Rathnayake, Rashmi Nethranjalee, Rashmika Sewwandi, Dewmi Vihanga, Manudi Nanayakkara, Sumudu Nisansala, Pamoda Shaini, Vidushika Perera, Dulanga Dissanayake, Rishmi Sanjana, Nethmi Senarathne, Harini Perera, Vihara Sewwandi.Shashikala Siriwardena(Coach), Indrani Ariyaratne (Manager )
USA under 19 women’s squad Geetika Kodali (capt), Anika Kolan, Aditi Chudasama, Bhumika Bhadriraju, Disha Dhingra, Isani Vaghela, Jivana Aras, Laasya Mullapudi, Pooja Ganesh, Pooja Shah, Ritu Singh, Sai Tanmayi Eyyunni, Snigdha Paul, Suhani Thadani, Taranum Chopra.