Historic moment for Sri Lanka with series triumph over England

Having recorded their first-ever T20I win over England Women last week, Sri Lanka Women doubled up to record a historic series victory over the Englishwomen in Derby on Wednesday.

Unsurprisingly, captain Chamari Athapaththu was central in her team’s comfortable seven-wicket win, first taking three wickets for 21 runs to help bowl out England Women for 116 before hammering 44 off 28 to set Sri Lanka Women up to complete a successful chase.

It was the first time Sri Lanka Women have beaten England Women in a series across any format. 

By the time Athapaththu was dismissed, Sri Lanka Women were more than halfway to the target, on 65 for 1, in 6.4 overs, and from there Harshitha Samarawickrama carefully guided the visiting team to victory with an unbeaten 26, with Anushka Sanjeewani, who opened with Athapaththu, making 20. 

So comfortable was the win that Sri Lanka got there with three full overs to spare.

The chase was set up by another excellent bowling performance, led by Athapaththu but with key contributions from Kavisha Dilhari, and Udeshika Prabodhani, both of whom picked up 2 for 16.

Inoshi Priyadharshani and Inoka Ranaweera also claimed a wicket each.

England Women 116 in 19 overs (Maia Bouchier 23, Danieele Gibson 21, Amy Jones 20, Chamari Athapaththu 3/21, Udeshika Prabodhani 2/16, Kavisha Dilhari 2/16)

Sri Lanka Women 117 for 3 in 17 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 44, Harshitha Samarawickrama 26, Anushka Sanjeewani 20, Sarah Glenn 2/23)