Opening batter Tazmin Brits scores her 3rd ODI century before rain plays spoilsport as the 1st ODI gets washed out.
The Sri Lankan women’s team led by skipper Chamari Athapaththu stunned the home side, South Africa, by bagging the 3-match T20I series by a 2-1 margin. The South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt was awarded the Player of the Series for scoring 158 runs in the T20I series.
The caravan now moves on to the three-match ODI series that will conclude on 17th April 2024. Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and opted to field first at the Buffalo Park, East London. After being inserted to bat first, the South African openers Tazmin Brits and skipper Laura Wolvaardt got off to a solid start with a massive 94-run opening partnership before they lost the wicket of their skipper Laura Wolvaardt in the 20th over of the innings. Kavisha Dilhari provided the first breakthrough for Sri Lanka.
Anneke Bosch joined Tazmin Brits at the crease and the duo stitched another crucial 70-run partnership for the 2nd wicket to put the home side into a strong position before Oshadi Ranasinghe picked up the wicket of Anneke Bosch to provide the 2nd breakthrough for her side. Sune Luus joined opening batter Tazmin Brits at the crease and the duo continued the momentum with another 40-run partnership for the 3rd wicket to solidify South Africa’s position in the game. Sugandika Kumari picked up the wicket of Sune Luus to provide the 3rd breakthrough for South Africa.
The home side failed to capitalize on the solid platform laid by the South African top order as they were restricted to 270/6 in their quota of overs, managing just 66 runs in the last nine overs. Tazmin Brits (116 off 128 balls), skipper Laura Wolvaardt (41 off 57 balls), Anneke Bosch (39 off 42 balls), and Nadine de Klerk (34 off 22 balls) were the top performers with the bat for South Africa. Oshadi Ranasinghe (10-0-42-2), Kavisha Dilhari (9-0-47-2), and Sugandika Kumari (10-0-67-2) were the top performers with the ball for Sri Lanka.
Chasing a target of 271, the Sri Lankan openers Vishmi Gunaratne and skipper Chamari Athapaththu got off to a cautious start, before the rains arrived in the 7th over of the run chase and the game was eventually called off. The 2nd ODI of the series will be played at the Diamond Oval, Kimberly, on 13th April (Saturday).