Kavisha Dilhari’s all-round show powers Sri Lanka to the ODI series victory against the West Indies after 16 years.
The Sri Lankan women’s team led by skipper Chamari Athapaththu clinched the 1st ODI comprehensively by six wickets and 95 balls to spare. Sugandika Kumari and Kavisha Dilhari picked up three wickets each before Sri Lankan top order cruised through the run chase to seal the game comprehensively by six wickets to go 1-0 up in the three-match ODI series.
The stand-in West Indies skipper Shemaine Campbelle won the toss and elected to bat first. West Indies got off to a poor start as they lost their top order, including the likes of Stafanie Taylor and their stand-in skipper Shemaine Campbelle within the first 15 overs of the innings. With the West Indies in deep trouble at 22/3 in the 13th over of the innings, Chedean Nation joined wicket-keeper batter Rashada Williams at the crease and the duo stitched a crucial 24-run partnership for the 4th wicket.
Sugandika Kumari cleaned up the wicket-keeper batter Rashada Williams to provide the 4th breakthrough for Sri Lanka. West Indies lost a couple of wickets in quick succession and found themselves in all sorts of trouble at 54/6 in 23 overs. Afy Fletcher joined Aaliyah Alleyne at the crease and the duo stitched another crucial 28-run partnership for the 7th wicket. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu cleaned up Aaliyah Alleyne to provide the 7th breakthrough for her side.
The visitors West Indies were eventually bundled out for 92 with 19 overs to spare. It is their third-lowest total against Sri Lanka in the ODI format. Wicket-keeper batter Rashada Williams (24 off 62 balls), Aaliyah Alleyne (16 off 18 balls), and Afy Fletcher (16 off 20 balls) were the top performers with the bat for West Indies. Kavisha Dilhari (6-0-20-4), Achini Kulasuriya (7-1-16-2), Sugandika Kumari (6-0-16-1), and skipper Chamari Athapaththu (2-0-8-2) were the top performers with the ball for Sri Lanka.
Chasing a target of 93, Sri Lanka lost a couple of wickets, including the wicket of their skipper Chamari Athapaththu inside the first six overs of the run chase. Kavisha Dilhari joined Vishmi Gunaratne at the crease and the duo took their side closer to the target with a much-needed 58-run partnership for the 3rd wicket. Zaida James picked up the wicket of the opening batter Vishmi Gunaratne in the 17th over of the run chase to provide the 3rd breakthrough for the West Indies.
Vishmi Gunaratne completed her well-deserved half-century before getting dismissed. Sri Lanka eventually got over the line with five wickets in hand and 172 balls to spare. Vishmi Gunaratne (50 off 50 balls), and Kavisha Dilhari (28 off 38 balls) were the top performers with the bat for Sri Lanka. Karishma Ramharack (5.2-0-29-2), Shamilia Connell (4-1-13-1), Zaida James (4-0-12-1), and Aaliyah Alleyne (4-0-15-1) were the top performers with the ball for the West Indies.
Kavisha Dilhari (6-0-20-4) with the ball and (28 off 38 balls) with the bat played a crucial role in helping her side seal the three-match ODI series against the West Indies after 16 years. The 3rd and final ODI of the series will be played on 21st June 2024 (Friday) at the Hambantota Stadium from 10 AM IST.