Sri Lankan Women's Cricket team stunned the hosts of the Women's T20 World Cup 2023 in the opening match. They defeated the home team by 3 runs in a match that went to the wire. Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu was adjudged "Player of the match" for her valuable 68 in the first inning.
South African captain Sune Luss won the toss and decided to bowl. Sri Lanka looked good in the first powerplay after scoring 38, losing just one wicket and with captain Chamari Athapathtu on the crease, they looked for a decent total on board.
Although South African bowlers were not able to pick up wickets in the middle overs, they were tight with their line and length. Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne looked good in the middle for their 86-run partnership, but failed to go for the kill at the end.
Vishmi got run out by Taznim Brits after scoring 35 off 34 balls with only 17 balls left in the first inning. Chamari Athapaththu also departed in the next ball trying to pull a short ball from Marizanne Kapp. Sri Lanka could only add 15 runs after that as they finished at 129/4 in the first inning.
South African death bowling was top notch with Shabnim Ismail (22/1) and Kapp (15/1) leading the attack.
With a 130-run target on board, the home team could not get off to a flyer. Tazmim Brits departed after scoring 12 off 18 as Sri Lanka kept on squeezing dots ball in every over.
Marizanne Kapp (11) tried to get on with the game but got out to Inoka Ranaweera, trying to clear the mid-on.
South African captain Sune Luss tried to build a partnership with Laura Wolvaardt but Inoka Ranaweera kept on striking with the ball. Wolvaardt departed after adding only 18 from 23 balls.
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Not only Ranaweera, but South African batters also could not handle the spin of Sugandika Kumari and Oshadi Ranasinghe.
Kumari's double strike in the 13th over helped the Sri Lankan team make a huge turnaround in the match. She first trapped Chloe Tyron playing a big shot. Then, clean bowled Anneke Bosch two balls later.
At 72/5, South Africa were still in the game with Sune Luss at the crease. But, she kept losing partners from the other end. Soon she also departed stepping out to Ranaweera. Wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta tried to score some quick runs but was unfortunately run out by Ranasinghe on 15 from 9.
With 13 needed from the last over, Kumari held her nerve as she only have 10 to upset the home side in the opening match of the Women's T20 World Cup 2023.
Scorecard of the match: SAW vs SLW
SLW 129/4, Athapaththu 68 (55)
SAW 126/9, Ranaweera 18/3, Ranasinghe 20/2