Bates and Tahuhu pilot NZ women to easy win

Opener Suzie Bates hit a superb knock of 52 in 53 balls with 6 fours while fast bowler Lea Tahuhu had excellent figures of 4 for 21 as New Zealand women recorded an easy eight wicket win with eight balls to spare against Sri Lanka women’ at their second T-20 game played at P. Sara Oval grounds yesterday.

It was good team effort by New Zealanders while skipper Sophie Devine handled the game very well to win the series 2-0 with one game to spare. Sri Lanka women’s invited to bat first but openers skipper Chamari Atapattu and young Vishmi Gunaratne were unable to make good start once again while Atapattu was unfortunately run out scoring 2 runs in 8 balls and New Zealand got this prize wicket in third over which was the turning point of the game. Harshitha Samarawickrama (23 in 28 balls with 2 fours) and Hashini Perera(33 in 38 balls with 3 fours) tried to repair the innings. Nilakshi de Silva (22) Anushka Sanjeewani (18 n.o)also made useful knocks. The 32 year old right arm medium fast bowler Lea Tahuhu who was named as player of the match did most of the damage and Sri Lanka lasses had to be satisfied with 118 for 6 wickets in 20 overs. Eden Carson the off spinner took 1 for 21 played good supporting role.

New Zealand chasing a target of 119 and openers Bernadine Bezuidenhout (22) and experienced Suzie Bates (52) added solid partnership of 48 runs in 8.1 overs and Sri Lanka bowlers were under pressure at this stage. Amelia Kerr made an unbeaten 33 in 33 balls and skipper Sophie Deveni (5) made an unbeaten 12 runs to steer them to a eight wicket win.

Two spinners Kaveesha Dilhari and Inoka Ranaweera shared one wicket each for Sri Lanka women’s team. New Zealand High Commissioner of Sri Lanka Michael Appleton was the chief guest and gave away the awards.

Two teams will meet in their third and final T-20 tomorrow at the same venue.

Chief scores

Sri Lanka women’s: 118 for 6 wickets in 20 overs Harshitha Samarawickrama 23, Hasini Perera 33, Nilakshi de Silva 22, Anushka Sanjeewani 18*, Eden Carson 1/15, Lea Tahuhu 4/21

New Zealand women’s: 119 for 2 wickets in 18. 4 overs Bernadine Bezuidenhout 22, Suzie Bates 52, Amelia Kerr 22*, Inoka Ranaweera1/28, Kaveesha Dilhhari 1/22