The T20 leg of the Sri Lanka A – New Zealand A tour kicked off with an absolute nail-biter that sets up the clash beautifully.
After being asked to bat first, New Zealand A found themselves in immediate trouble, collapsing to a shaky 25 for 3 inside the powerplay as Sri Lanka A’s disciplined new-ball attack made early inroads. While the middle order showed immense resilience through Prue Catton and Poppy-Jay Watkins, it was a masterful spell of left-arm orthodox spin from Sachini Nisansala—who picked up a tight 2 for 12—that kept the visitors in check. A late, aggressive counterattack by keeper-batter Kate Gaging, who struck an unbeaten 35 off 27 balls, dragged New Zealand A to a fighting total of 129.
The chase was equally hard-fought; despite a fiery opening burst from the visiting bowlers, a steady and tactically mature 27 from opening batter Vishmi Gunaratne laid a rock-solid foundation, allowing the hosts to safely navigate a tense finish and seal a dramatic three-wicket victory with just three balls to spare.
Squads:
Sri Lanka A Women’s Cricket Team
Sathya Sandeepani, Sanjana Kavindi, Vishmi Gunaratne, Vimoksha Balasuriya, Lihini Apsara, Limansa Thilakarathna, Dewmi Vihanga, Sumudu Nisansala, Rashmika Sewwandi, Piumi Wathsala, Randi Premarathne, Satheeskumar Sajinthiny, Rashmi Silva, Chamudi Praboda, Tharuka Shehani
New Zealand A Women’s Cricket Team
Kate Anderson, Bella Armstrong, Emma Black, Prue Catton, Marama Downes, Kate Gaging, Fran Jonas, Bella James, Xara Jetly, Kayley Knight, Darcy Prasad, Hannah Rowe, Tash Wakelin, PJ Watkins, Jess Watkin
Players to watch out:
Kate Gaging
Kate Gaging produced a brilliant, clutch performance in the middle order during the first T20 in Dambulla, showcasing excellent composure under pressure. Walking out with her team in a difficult position, she anchored the lower half of the innings beautifully to finish with a vital, unbeaten 35 off just 27 deliveries. Her aggressive knock featured six well-timed boundaries, providing the late acceleration New Zealand A desperately needed to push their total to 129. Beyond her crucial contributions with the bat, her reliable work behind the stumps kept the pressure on the hosts throughout a very tight, down-to-the-wire contest.
Hannah Rowe
Hannah Rowe brought her trademark discipline to the New Zealand A bowling unit, making a strong impact during the opening T20 clash. Entrusted with critical overs, she restricted the local batters effectively by maintaining an incredibly tight line and length, giving away very little room to score. She rounded off her performance by chipping in with a handy, unbeaten 10 runs off 12 balls at the tail end of the innings, forming a resilient partnership with Gaging. Her ability to keep things steady under lights provided a crucial blueprint for the rest of the visiting bowling attack.
Vishmi Gunaratne
Vishmi Gunaratne set a very confident tone at the top of the order for Sri Lanka A, anchoring the initial phase of their successful run chase. Facing a disciplined New Zealand A opening attack, she batted with great tactical maturity to hit a vital 27 runs off 24 deliveries to break the back of the target. Her ability to rotate the strike effectively and find the boundary early on gave the hosts the early momentum they needed. This steady platform in the powerplay proved to be the ultimate difference, allowing the middle order to navigate a tense finish and seal a thrilling three-wicket win.
Sachini Nisansala
Sachini Nisansala was the absolute standout with the ball for Sri Lanka A, completely strangling the opposition’s scoring rate with her accurate left-arm orthodox spin. She spun a tight web across her four-over spell, conceding a mere 12 runs while constantly challenging the visiting batters. Nisansala broke a dangerous middle-order partnership by picking up the massive, set wickets of Prue Catton and Poppy-Jay Watkins just as they were looking to break free. Her exceptional figures of 2 for 12 shifted the momentum entirely, ensuring New Zealand A were restricted to a highly chaseable total.
Pitch:
Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium offers a balanced yet bowler-friendly dry, slow surface that tilts decisively towards spinners and cutters as the match unfolds, with its high-water table aiding seamers in the morning session before significant turn kicks in later. This low-to-medium scoring venue morphs into a treacherous two-paced track, historically favouring tweakers while rewarding seamers.
Weather:
The conditions in Dambulla will be mostly cloudy and quite humid with steady southwest winds. Expect a 40% to 60% chance of brief passing showers in the afternoon before a dry, breezy evening.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Sathya Sandeepani, Sanjana Kavindi, Vishmi Gunaratne, Dewmi Vihanga, Sumudu Nisansala, Rashmika Sewwandi, Kate Anderson, Bella Armstrong, Emma Black, Bella James, Jess Watkin
Match Details:
Date – May 23, 2026
Time – 10:00 AM IST
Venue – Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Sri Lanka
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
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