Sri Lanka Women – West Indies Women 2nd ODI Fletcher, Taylor helps Windies Women to draw level

By M. Shamil Amit 

 A four wicket haul by spinner Afy Fletcher and an unbeaten match winning knock by opener Stafanie Taylor paved the way for the visiting West Indies Women to record a six wicket win on the D/L method against host Sri Lanka Women in the rain affected 2nd T20 encounter played at Sooriyawewa Stadium yesterday which enabled them to level the three match series 1-1.   

West Indies Women in pursuit of a revised target of 99 runs in 15 overs succeeded to race to the target with five balls to spare. It was Taylor along with her partner and skipper Hayley Matthews who laid the foundation for their win with the pair sharing a valuable 44 run stand in 41 balls before Matthews fell victim to Sachinie Nisansala having hit a run a ball 29 with five boundaries.   

Taylor found a reliable partner in Shemaine Campbelle who began to deal with the bowlers with confidence whilst supporting her senior partner. The pair added 24 runs in only 18 balls before host skipper Atapattu separated them with Campbelle’s wicket who chipped in with 16 in 13 balls.   

The visitors with the score on 68 for 2 in the tenth over and despite losing two quick wickets for the addition of 16 runs was guided by Taylor who remained unbeaten on 28 made in 26 balls along with Aaliyah Aleyne to help the visitors chalk up their first win of the tour.   

Earlier Sri Lanka Women invited to take first lease of the wicket was given a sound start by openers’ skipper Chamari Atapattu amd Vishmi Gunaratne who together added 44 in 47 balls before being separated with the dismissal of skipper Atapattu who made a 25 balls knock of 26 which had four boundaries and a six.   

Later skipper Atapattu shared another brief stand with Harshitha Samarawickrama before rain put a stop to proceedings with Sri Lanka Women’s score on 69 for 4 having faced 15.2 overs which also the end of the host innings.   

The two teams will play the third and deciding match on June 28.