Dedunu and Chamari steer Lankan women to victory

Chinthana Wasala in Dambulla

A first wicket partnership worth 119 runs between Dedunu Silva and Chamari Polgampola helped Sri Lankan women to record a convincing eight wicket win over the West Indies women in the third One Day International played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday. With this victory, Sri Lanka is now leading the five match series 2-1.

Dedunu Silva was the star in yesterday’s game top scoring with 58 runs which included nine boundaries, while Chamari Polgampola’s 47 run knock contained seven hits to the ropes.

Yesterday, Windies bowlers show their power on the Lankan batswomen as Silva and Polgampola did not find it difficult to find the gaps to hit 17 boundaries during their 119 run partnership. Lankans got off to a brilliant start with Sri Lanka’s star batswoman Dedunu Silva scoring a half ton, the first by a Lankan in the tournament.

Dedunu was well supported by her opening partner Chamari Polgampola who scored 47 before she was caught by Nero off a delivery by Mohommed and missed what could have been another brilliant half century. Dedunu Silva followed Polgampola to the dressing room in the next over bowled by Stefanie Taylor when she gave a catch to skipper George.

But Hiruka Fernando and S. Abeywickrama continued the good work done by the openers to finish off the game in style in the 37th over for Sri Lanka to take the much wanted lead in the series. Earlier after winning the toss, Windies skipper decided to bat first.

Sri Lankan women were brilliant on the field yesterday and did not let any of the Windies batswomen to go for big scores. Only opener Stefanie Taylor and Danielle Small who remained unbeaten showed some sort of resistance. Windies wickets fell at regular intervals at the beginning.

Deandra Dottin was the first to go. She was caught by Suwini de Alwis off a delivery from Chandi Wickramasinghe for 16. Rose Fernando who was brought back to the team after a long interval, bagged the wicket of Juliana Nero who was lbw for five. Stacy Ann King was also a victim of Rose, caught by Suwini de Alwis at five. Skipper Nadine George was stumped by wicketkeeper Manodara off a delivery by Sri Lankan captain Shashikala Siriwardena for five runs when the total stood at 63.

West Indies women were in trouble when they lost Stefanie Taylor, Merissa Aguilera and Kirbyina Alexander when the total was 64. Taylor who was in good form was run out for 25 and Aguilera was caught at mid on without scoring from a delivery by Suwini de Alwis.

Alexander also departed without scoring. She was caught by Hiruni Fernando off a Siriwardena delivery. At this stage Anisa Mohommed and Small worked on a partnership that did not go too far. Mohommed departed for 10 when she was lbw to Rose Fernando, giving Rose’ third wicket.

Afy Fletcher was the last to go, Senevirathne caught her to give the wicket to bowler Wickramasinghe to end the Windies innings at 125 with 5.3 overs remaining. Rose Fernando was the best among the Sri Lankan bowlers as she bagged three wickets for 22 runs. Chandi Wickramasinghe, Suwini de Alwis and Shashikala Siriwardena bagged two wickets each.

WEST INDIES INNINGS

S. Taylor run out				25
D. Dottin c de. Alwis b Wickramasinghe 		16
J.Nero lbw R.Fernando 				 5
S.A. King c De alwis b R. Fernando 		 5
N. George st. Manodara b Siriwardena 		 5
M. Aguilera c Wickramasinghe b de Alwis  	 0
C. Taitt b de Alwis  				 2
K. Alexander c H. Fernando b Siriwardena 	 0
D. Small not out 				37
A. Mohammed lbw R. Fernando  			10
A. Fletcher c Senevirathne b Wickramasinghe	 6

EXTRAS: (b-1, lb-3, w-10)			14
TOTAL (all out)					125

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-25 (Dottin), 2-32 (Nero), 3-52 (King), 4-63 (Geroge), 5-64 (Taylor), 6-64 (Aguilera),
		 7-64 (Alex), 8-71 (Taitt), 9-100 (Mohommed), 10-125.
BOWLING: S. Weerakkody 3-1-12-0, C. Senevirathne 2-0-12-0, C. Wickramasinghe 6.3-1-23-2,
 	R. Fernando 10-4-22-3, S. Siriwardena 10-5-25-2, S. de Alwis 10-2-20-2, H. Fernando 1-0-5-0, S. Abeywickrama 2-0-2-0.

SRI LANKA INNINGS
D. Silva c George b Taylor 			58
C. Polgampola c Nero b Mohommed  		47
H. Fernando not out  				 4
S. Abeywickrama not out 			 4

EXTRAS:(b-1, lb-1, n-1, w-11) 			14
TOTAL for 2 wickets in 				127

BOWLING: D. Small 4-0-16-0, S. Taylor 10-3-22-1, C. Taitt 6-0-17-0, A. Mohammed 8.3-1-22-1,
	 A.Fletcher 3-0-11-0, D. Dottin 3-0-18-0, S.A. King 1-0-9-0, K. Alexander 1-0-10-0.