Women’s World Cup in South Africa – Sri Lanka flatter, then flop as they receive a Kiwi hiding – by BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE
Sri Lanka’s dream of making the World Cup semi finals evaporated on the back of a lacklustre performance against New Zealand after a 101-run thrashing.
A dream start with wins over hosts South Africa and then Bangladesh soon turned to a nightmare when holders Australia and the New Zealand handed them successive thrashings showing them the door out from the competition.
It was not all doom and gloom though, as the plucky Lankans showed they are on the rise and should be a formidable force in the not too distant future.
What arose from the exposure was some exciting talent in both batting and bowling that should be harnessed and nurtured.
Skipper Chamari Athapaththu has carried this team with the bat for a long period of time making them noticeable but not really threatening to the top teams. She burst into the limelight with a memorable bludgeoning of the feared Australian attack smashing 168 in a one-dayer and has since been welcomed to the Big Bash almost every year.
But the wheels of change has seen Athapaththu’s form wane as she battles to counter opposition strategy and focus on dismantling her early.
So it is heartening to see players such as opener Harshita Samarawickrema, Vishmi Gunaratne and Nilakshi De Silva, as batters, and Inoka Ranaweera and Oshadi Ranasinghe with skipper Athapaththu capable of controlling the best batting line-ups going around.
It takes the weight off single focus, and now depends on consistency if they are to demand due recognition. They all failed in this game. Ranaweera who was named in the best team in the world for he bowling is a star on the rise.
New Zealand racked up a quick fire 162 for in their allotment and then their pace- spin combination demolished the Lankans for a paltry 60 in 15.5 overs. Athapaththu was the top scorer with 19. The rest had little resistance in a game they sorely needed to win as they crumbled under the weight of expectation.
Back to the drawing board and a better preparation will be their focus after the unwanted distraction caused by former coach Hashan Tillekeratne, who left them hanging, by taking up a new responsibility as head of Bangladesh shortly before the World Cup.
There’s enough to work with for new coach Rumesh Ratnayake who appears to be moulding them into a serious challenger for the future.
