Alyssa Healy’s splendid knock of 112 runs of 76 balls ensured that Australia gets their 18th straight victory in one-day internationals.
In the 3rd and final ODI of the series, Sri Lanka Women won the toss and decided to bat first. They could only pose a target of 196 runs and Australia chased it in the 27th over itself, courtesy Alyssa Healy’s masterclass.
The only highlight of Sri Lanka’s innings was Chamari Athapaththu’s ton. She went on to score 103 runs in 124 balls. She appeared to be in sublime form as she hit her second century of the tour. The other batters couldn’t contribute much with the second-highest score being Harshitha Madavi’s 24.
After Yasoda Mendis was bowled by Ellyse Perry in the 3rd over, Madavi and Athapaththu were forming a partnership when Madavi was run out by the smart wicketkeeper Healy. The next handy partnership happened between Chamari and Ama Kanchana. Kanchana and Ranasinghe scored 17 runs each.
In terms of Australian bowling, only Megan Schutt and Nicola Carey could complete their quota of 10 overs. While Schutt took 2, Carey managed to get the captain Siriwardene out of the game while she was at 1. Perry and Kimmince took one wicket each while Wareham scalped 2 wickets in her 4-over spell.
Australia started their chase of 196 runs confidently with both the openers taking full charge of the responsibility. Rachael Haynes, the in-form batter scored a brisk half-century. She scored 63 runs in 74 balls before the Sri Lankan centurion Chamari Athapaththu stuck her LBW in the 23rd over. It was the only wicket that the Lankans could get in the match.
Captain Lanning’s consecutive 3 fours in the 25th over gave an indication of the current Australia team’s mindset. Alyssa Healy played her natural game and brought her third ODI hundred only in 71 balls. She scored 112 of 76 balls and gave her team the 18th consecutive ODI victory by ending the innings with a 6 in the 27th over.
Australia women won the series 3-0 over Sri Lanka women. It was their 18th consecutive ODI win- the Southern Stars have won all of their 18 matches played in the last 18 months. With 18 victories in a row, they set a new world record as go past Belinda Clark’s Australia team who had 17 consecutive wins between 1997 and 1999.
WORLD RECORD CREATED! 🙌🚨🚨
Meg Lanning led Australia Women registered 18 consecutive ODI Wins today defeating Sri Lanka Women in the 3rd ODI at Brisbane.
Congratulations @cricketcomau @CricketAus #AUSvSL #AUSWvSLW
📸@AusWomenCricket pic.twitter.com/tKOA1vpMYO
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 9, 2019
It was indeed a special win for the Southern Stars who made history by breaking the existing world record of most successive wins. This is a which team hasn’t tasted defeat in ODIs for the last 18 months.
Sri Lanka women’s team: 195/8 in 50 overs.
Australia women’s team: 196/1 in 26.5 overs.
Result: Australia women won the match by 9 wickets with 139 balls remaining.
Player of the match: Alyssa Healy
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