Skipper leads from the front as Sri Lanka Women defeat WI

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC):

Sri Lanka Women’s captain Chamari Athapaththu starred with bat and ball to guide her side to a four-wicket victory over West Indies Women in the second match of their T20 series yesterday.

Athapaththu, who was named Player of the Match, grabbed two wickets as the home side produced a below-par batting performance, for the second time in two days, to be bundled out for 101 in 20 overs after being sent in at the National Cricket Stadium.

She then returned to hit the top score of 39 off 26 balls to see the visitors romp to 102 for six in 18.1 overs and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, after Saturday’s opener ended in a no-result.

West Indies Women produced a slightly better showing than they did on Saturday, when they were routed for just 49.

However, apart from skipper Hayley Matthews, who scored a pedestrian 28 off 36 balls, no other batter scored 15, as they were once again undone by Sri Lanka’s spinners.

Athapaththu struck early by dismissing Qiana Joseph for five and Malki Madara followed up by having Jahzara Claxton caught for four, as the Windies stumbled to 22 for two in the sixth over.

Athapaththu then snared the prized scalp of Matthews to end a 27-run partnership with Stafanie Taylor.

From there, the West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals, with their last seven wickets falling for just 37 runs.

Madara was Sri Lanka’s best bowler with 3-16, while Nilakshika Silva took 3-20 and Athapaththu 2-13.

Sri Lanka then effectively put the contest to bed during a 62-run opening stand between Perera and Athapaththu.

The West Indies did stage a fightback once Matthews broke the stand by having Perera caught for 18, with Afy Fletcher trapping Athapaththu leg before wicket in the ensuing over without a run being added.

Harshitha Samarawickrama, Imesha Dulani and Nilakshiva Silva were then dismissed in quick succession to see Sri Lanka slip to 74 for five in the 15th over.

But Kavisha Dilhari steadied the ship with an unbeaten knock of 18 off 13 balls to carry her side to victory with 11 balls to spare.

Joseph (2-13) and Fletcher (2-16) were the Windies’ best bowlers.

The third and final match is scheduled to be played tomorrow.