Sri Lanka stun New Zealand in World Cup boilover BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor)
Sri Lanka’s women grabbed their opportunities with both hands and pulled off a sensational 5-wicket win over New Zealand in one of the biggest upsets so far in the Women’s World Cup in Southampton.
Led by Nilakshi Silva 57 off 34 balls, Sri Lanka rode their luck while capitalising on New Zealand’s uncharacteristic sloppy work in the field to give them hope of progressing to the vital stages.
After the bowlers did a magnificent job to restrict New Zealand’s batting to just 150 in their allotment, Sri Lanka went about the target with belief they could chase it down.
New Zealand skipper Melie Kerr, 45 off 36 and Sophie Devine 45 off 30 held the innings together as Sri Lanka’s varied attack tied thrm down to 150 for 6 in their allotment.
But New Zealand fought back to remove dangerous Chamari Athapaththu, 27 off 19 balls, Vishmi Gunaratne 17 off 19, Harshitha Samarawickrema, (5) Hasini Perera (2), cheaply and with the run rate climbing to around 9 an over, things looked bleak.
New Zealand’s fielding has been sloppy in the two games so far dropping six in the last game and three against Sri Lanka including a Nilakshi Silva top edge that could have swung the result. Silva was 1 at the time.
Nilakshi Silva came in at the fall of the fourth wicket with the total on 55 and stuck to her task keeping the scoreboard ticking over and found able allys Kavisha Dilhari, 17 off 16 and Kaushini Nuthyangana 24 off 14 as they steered the ship back on course and negotiated a memorable win that will be long remembered.
Emotional scenes broke out after the nail-biting win with two balls to spare as Sri Lanka’s team and fans celebrated in fine style.
Sri Lanka have a win and a loss in their two games after going down to England in game one.
The confidence derived from this win and a couple more wins will drive them towards the play-offs for a crack at the best teams in the world.
Apart from Australia, Sri Lanka have tasted success over almost all the other teams in their recent surge in the women’s game.
