Windies Women Victorious over Sri Lanka
The West Indies Women’s cricketers might have been beaten in the World Cup final 5 days ago but they put that disappointment behind them by romping home to four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first One-Day International in Dambulla.
They were tested at times by Sri Lanka, who finished the World Cup in fifth, but eventually proved too strong for their ever-improving opponents.
Batting first, Sri Lanka posted 164 for nine, while the West Indies, inspired by Deandra Dottin’s 43 in 39 balls, reached their target with 12 overs to spare.
Dottin hit four sixes during her innings and the WIndies, having slipped to 76 for three, were revived by Kyshona Knight’s 36 to reach 165 for 6.
Juliana Nero had made 30 at the top of the order before two wickets apiece from Chamini Seneviratne and Shashikala Siriwardene put the tourists under some pressure.
Knight and Dottin’s 73-run partnership for the fourth wicket ended Sri Lanka’s hopes of getting back into the game and although both would fall, to Siriwardene and Inoka Ranaweera respectively, Kycia Knight’s unbeaten 13 steered the new world number two-ranked side to a 1-0 series lead.
They had earlier undermined Sri Lanka’s bid to set a more testing target with regular wickets. Shakera Selman was outstanding, returning figures of two for eight in her 10 overs, dismissing openers Chamari Polgampola (16) and Prasadani Weerakkody (13).
Shemaine Campbelle also struck twice, returning two for 13 while there was a wicket apiece for Tremayne Smartt, Anisa Mohammed and Stafanie Taylor.
The second game in the three-match series is at the same venue on Sunday.
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