27 June 2023 05:44 pm Views - 1200
Sri Lanka's Women beat New Zealand Women for the first time in its history, as captain Chamari Athapaththu led the way with a brilliant century, for an emphatic nine-wicket win in Galle.
In a rain-affected match, reduced to 28 overs a team, Sri Lanka Women were set a target of 171, which the hosts hunted down in 27 overs.
Athapaththu scored her seventh ODI century in 79 balls, and saw Sri Lanka to victory, remaining unbeaten on 111 off 83 deliveries with 10 boundaries and five sixes.
17-year-old Vishmi Gunaratne scored a 73-ball half-century, her first in ODIs, but was dismissed the very next delivery, after putting together a 159-run opening wicket partnership with Athapaththu.
Earlier, New Zealand finished on 170 or 5 in their 28 overs, with Amelia Kerr top scoring with 40.
Maddy Green scored 38 off 20 before she was run out off the final over of the innings.
Sugandika Kumari, Kavisha Dilhari and Inoka Rananweera took a wicket each, with the White Ferns losing two batters to run outs.
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