Lankan women win tri series in Pakistan

Chamari Polgampola and Shashikala Siriwardena took three wickets each while Dedunu Silva and Hiruka Fernando came up with good scores to make a successful run chase to help Sri Lanka women gain a convincing six wicket win in the Tri-nations final played at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur in Bangladesh yesterday.

Polgampola (3 for 16) and skipper Siriwardene (3 for 24) destroyed the Pakistani women’s batting line up and restricted them to 123. Suwini de Alwis picked up 2 for 18 while Rose Fernando bagged one wicket for 21. Only Javeria Khan was able to make a good score of 23 for Pakistan before she was lbw to a delivery from Suwini de Alwis.

Sri Lanka’s star opener Dedunu Silva paved the way for a good start with 27 along with Chamari Polgampola who made 19, put on a 49 run partnership for the first wicket. Hiruka Fernando who joined Polgampola after Silva continued with the good work done by the opener and was the top scorer in the match with a solid knock of an unbeaten 44.

Urooj Mumtaz picked up 2 for 16 to cause a bit of a damage to the Lankans but Suwini and Hiruka ensured Sri Lanka reach the target with more than 14 overs to spare.

Polgampola was named the Player of the Match and of the series for her nine wickets and 58 runs. This victory which came in their final international game before the women’s World Cup to be held in Australia next moth will be a morale booster for the Lankan women cricketers.

CW