Sri Lanka’s hopes of a home World Cup semi-final fades into the Island horizon. England drive home team into the dust on a Nat Sciver- Brunt onslaught. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor).
Sri Lanka’s women cricketers were exposed at home to the stark reality that they are nowhere near the best, even at home, when they were thrashed by England by 89 runs in the World Cup at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Set a gettable target of 254, Sri Lanka’s batters lacked necessary application and skill to chase down the required runs as they folded meekly for 164 to concede victory to England without a fight.
England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt proved to be the difference in the end with a heroic 117 off 117 deliveries with 2 sixers and 9 fours.
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Scriver-Brunt was in a class of her own as she battled almost singlehandedly to negotiate a winning total while Sri Lanka’s bowlers made periodic inroads but couldn’t contain the English skipper.
Sri Lanka in contrast lost skipper and match winner Chamari Athapaththu early to injury, later cheaply.
It was a steady procession afterwards as the middle order and tail offered little resistance exposing a very inconsistent batting performance that drew parallels to the men’s team.
Sri Lanka went into this World Cup with some notable performances against England, South Africa, India and New Zealand so the expectation was high at home where they host five games while the rest are staged by co- hosts India.
So far that expectation has fallen through losing to India, getting away with a no result against Australia because of an abandoned game due to rain, and now being overrun by England.
The expectation pre tournament was a semi-final to signal improvement. Not so going on current form.
Meanwhile defending holders Australia under inspirational skipper Alyssa Healey look like one of the teams to beat, hotly challenged by England, South Africa and India.
Pakistan looms as a dark horse.
In subcontinental conditions, the desired outcomes and expectations at this stage looks ominously outside of Asia which is concerning.
