The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee recently revealed the 15-member squad for the upcoming ODI series against the New Zealand National Women’s Team. This announcement sets the stage for an exciting and challenging encounter between the two teams.
Leading the Sri Lankan team will be the experienced and talented Chamari Athapaththu. As the captain, Athapaththu has consistently delivered strong performances for the squad. Alongside her, the team will benefit from the presence of seasoned players like Udeshika Prabodhani, Oshadi Ranasinghe, and Inoka Ranaweera. These players bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team, which will undoubtedly be valuable in the upcoming series.
In addition to the experienced players, the Sri Lankan team also boasts promising young talents. Players like Harshita Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari have shown great potential and are expected to make valuable contributions to the team’s performance. This blend of experience and youth provides the Sri Lankan team with a well-rounded squad capable of taking on the challenges posed by the New Zealand team.
The Sri Lankan women’s team has been displaying promising performances in recent times. However, they will face a formidable challenge from the New Zealand team, which holds a higher ranking in the ICC ODI rankings. This series will be an opportunity for the Sri Lankan team to test their skills and prove themselves against top-quality opposition.
In April-May, Sri Lanka hosted Bangladesh and the two Asian countries competed in three ODIs and then as many T20Is. Following the cancellation of two games due to weather, Sri Lanka won the ODI series 1-0.
The only game that could be completed was a rain-curtailed 30-over affair in Colombo, where the hosts made 186/5, thanks to Athapaththu’s 60-ball 64-run knock, and Harshita Samarawickrama’s unbeaten 48-ball 45. Sri Lanka performed exceedingly well in the T20I series as well winning two matches of a total of three comprehensively.
The tour is set to commence on June 27, with the first ODI scheduled to be played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle. This will be followed by the second ODI on June 30 and the third ODI on July 3, both of which will also be held at the same venue. The Sri Lankan team will have the home advantage, and the familiar conditions are expected to work in their favour.
The upcoming ODI series against New Zealand will undoubtedly be a challenging and thrilling contest. The Sri Lankan women’s team will face a tough opponent in the form of the New Zealand National Women’s Team, a team that has consistently performed at a high level.
However, with a strong leader in Chamari Athapaththu and a well-rounded squad, the Sri Lankan team has the potential to deliver a competitive performance. As cricket enthusiasts, we can look forward to an exciting series filled with thrilling moments and outstanding performances from both teams.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Selection Committee has finalized the 15-member squad for the ODI series against New Zealand. The squad is as follows:
Chamari Athapaththu (C), Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani, Oshadi Ranasinghe, Kawya Karvindi, Sugandika Kumari, Inoka Ranaweera, Udeshika Prabodhani, Hansima Karunaratne, Inoshi Fernando, Imesha Dulani, Hasini Perera
(Inputs sourced from SLC press release)