Lankans in morale-boosting win

Chinthana WASALA in Kurunegala

A brilliant knock of 66 runs from Dedunu Silva helped Sri Lanka crush Bangladesh women by nine wickets in the last encounter of the Women’s Asia Cup before the final. The final is to be worked off on Sunday at the same venue. The unbeaten partnership of 81 between Dedunu and Shashikala Siriwardena (23) secured the Lankan’s victory.

The home team’s bowling attack led by A. Janakanthimala (3/9) and Shashikala Siriwardena (3/28) was too much for the visitors.

Bangladeshi women failed to make an impact as their batting line up collapsed in front of the home team. Except for the top scorer Ayesha Akhtar who made 30 in 75 deliveries, others did not come up with much to help swell the Bangladeshi total.

Chamely Kahun and Tithy Sarkar slowed down the tempo of the fall of wickets, creating a 24 run stand for the eighth wicket before Sarkar was run out in the 46th over when the score read 111.

Bangladeshi women were all out for 120 in the third ball of the last over of the innings as the tail enders could not stand up in front of the Lankan bowling attack.

Veteran bowler Janakanthimala proved that at the age of 39, she is head to head with any bowler in global women’s cricket. She had brilliant bowling figures of three wickets for just nine runs off ten overs of which six were maidens.

Sri Lankan skipper Shashika Siriwardene gave away 28 runs for her three wickets. Chamari Polgampola (1/27) and Sewini de Alwis (1/21) took one wicket each.

Sri Lankan women in reply, looked more stabilized from the beginning. But in the 15th over, Chamari Polgampola was dismissed for 14 after a controversial decision given by Umpire Rohitha Kottahachchi. Wicket keeper Mina Khatun took the catch off the bowling of Rumana Ahmed.

With only one wicket down, the Lankans got passed their target of 121 in the 26th over.

Dudunu Silva’s brilliant knock consisted of 12 boundaries. She is also the second highest run getter in this tournament with 262 as she is just behind Indian skipper Mithali Raj 269.

With Sri Lanka making a brilliant come back after their loss to India at the same venue two days ago, they have overcame Bangladesh to obtaining bonus points as well. That will definitely make the final of the Women’s Cricket Asia Cup a thriller.

BANGLADESH INNINGS

Shathira Jakir b Janakanthymala 			05
Shukhtara c Surangika b Janakanthymala 			00
Ayesha Akhter b Siriwardene 				30
Rumana Ahmed c Rasangika b de Alwis 			02
Salma Khatun lbw b Janakanthymala 			19
Panna Ghosh run out 					00
Chamely Khatun c Kaushalya b Kumarihami 		19
Irin Sultana b Siriwardene 				18
Tithy Sarkar run out 					07
Mina Khatun not out 					04
Lily Bishwash b Siriwardene 				02
Extras (b 1, lb 1, w 12) 				14
Total (all out; 49.3 overs) 				120
Fall of wickets: 
1-4, 2-7, 3-29, 4-59, 5-59, 6-76, 7-87, 8-111, 9-118.
Bowling: Chamari Polgampola 1/27, AD Janakanthymala 3/9, 
Sewini de Alwis 1/21, Shashikala Siriwardene 3/28

SRI LANKA INNINGS

Dedunu Silva not out 					66
Chamari Polgampola c Mina Khatun b Rumana Ahmed 	14
Shashikala Siriwardene not out 				23
Extras (w 20) 						20

Total (1 wkt; 25.5 overs) 				123

Did not bat: 
Sewini de Alwis, Chamika Bandara, Sumudu Fernando, Inoka
Galagedara, AD Janakanthymala, Eshani Kaushalya, 
Dipika Rasangika, Dialani Maodara
Fall of wickets: 1-42
Bowling: Rumana Ahmed 1/14