Cyprus Women had a dominant start to their home series against Malta with a disciplined all-round performance, winning by 24 runs in the opening T20I at Happy Valley Ground, Episkopi. The contest was not a high-scoring affair, but it provided plenty of intrigue as Cyprus Women battled through regular wickets before their bowlers combined brilliantly to defend a modest target. The victory was built on collective contributions rather than individual dominance, with every run and wicket proving crucial in a low-scoring encounter.
After being asked to bat first, Cyprus Women found scoring difficult from the outset as Malta Women struck early. The opening partnership between Ayesha Dirannehelage and Sasmi Jayakodi added 13 runs before Ayesha departed for 6 from 8 deliveries, caught off the bowling of captain Anupama Rameshan. Despite the early setback, Jayakodi and skipper Iresha Chathurani attempted to steady the innings, adding 24 runs for the second wicket. Jayakodi battled through 25 balls for her 12 runs before becoming the second wicket to fall at 37. Chathurani looked the most fluent batter for Cyprus, striking a boundary during her 17-run knock from 21 balls.
The middle phase saw Cyprus Women struggle to build momentum as wickets continued to tumble. Chathurani and Dinelka Koralalage stitched together a brief 6-run stand before Koralalage was run out for 3. Chathurani then shared a 9-run partnership with Dilini Ishara before the captain was dismissed with the score on 52. Malta’s bowlers maintained tight lines and prevented any significant acceleration. Thamara De Silva managed only 1 run, while Nilmini Liyanage contributed 7 from 14 balls. Dilini Ishara added 4 runs before becoming another victim of the disciplined Malta attack.
Lower down the order, Cyprus Women received useful contributions that pushed them towards a competitive total. Nilmini Liyanage and Chandrika Wijesinghe added 8 runs together before Liyanage fell for 7. Shashika Herath was dismissed without scoring, but Alexandra Taylor chipped in with 3 runs. Samanthi Dunukedeniya remained unbeaten on 10 from 10 deliveries and guided the innings through the closing stages. Chandrika Wijesinghe scored 5 before being run out, while Cyprus also benefited from a massive 27 extras, including 22 wides, which played a significant role in lifting them to 95 all out in 19.5 overs.
Malta Women’s bowling effort was led by Likitha Yadav, who delivered an outstanding spell of 2 for 16 from her 4 overs. Captain Anupama Rameshan also impressed with 1 for 14 from 4 overs, while Silda Joy matched those figures with 2 wickets for 17 runs in her full quota. Thanooja Sharfudheen claimed 1 for 8 from 1.5 overs, and Swetha Don picked up 1 wicket. Nicola De Bromhead bowled economically despite going wicketless, conceding just 22 runs in her four-over spell. Malta also executed three run-outs, highlighting their sharp work in the field.
Chasing 96 for victory, Malta Women needed composure, but Cyprus Women immediately put them under pressure. Jessica Rymer was dismissed without scoring at 1 for 6, giving Dinelka Koralalage the perfect start. Nicola De Bromhead and Likitha Yadav then attempted to rebuild with a partnership of 15 runs for the second wicket. Nicola made 6 from 16 balls while Likitha occupied the crease for 32 deliveries in a patient knock of 10 runs. However, Cyprus kept striking at regular intervals and never allowed the chase to settle.
After the score reached 21, Nicola became the second wicket to fall. Likitha and Silda Joy added 19 runs before Likitha departed, leaving Malta at 40 for 3. Silda scored 7, while captain Anupama Rameshan tried to revive the innings with a determined 14 from 23 deliveries. The fourth-wicket stand between Silda and Anupama was worth just 6 runs, and from there Malta found themselves increasingly behind the required rate. Swetha Don managed 2 runs, Thanooja Sharfudheen was dismissed for a duck, and Stella Arooja contributed only 1. Susan George and Reshma Raghavan also fell without scoring as wickets continued to tumble.
The only notable resistance came through partnerships of 13 runs between Anupama and Swetha Don and a further 5-run stand involving the lower order, but Cyprus maintained complete control. Malta were eventually bowled out for 71 in 18.3 overs, finishing 24 runs short of the target. Cyprus Women’s bowling unit deserves immense credit for the victory. Player of the Match Dinelka Koralalage produced a match-winning spell of 4 for 9 from 3.3 overs, dismantling the top and middle order.
Samanthi Dunukedeniya provided excellent support with 2 for 16 from 4 overs, while Chandrika Wijesinghe also claimed 2 wickets for 14 runs. Ayesha Dirannehelage chipped in with 1 for 17, and Iresha Chathurani added another wicket to complete a well-rounded bowling display. Their accuracy was reflected in the fact that Malta struggled to score boundaries and never built a partnership exceeding 19 runs.
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