The series was already lost for Sri Lanka heading in the final game but the hosts had pride to play for as they set to avoid a whitewash against New Zealand in the T20I series. The Lankans thus produced a spirited performance, first with the ball to restrict New Zealand to 140 and then chasi
New Zealand spinners Amelia Kerr, Eden Carson and Leigh Kasperek orchestrated Sri Lanka's downfall as the Kiwis registered a comfortable five-wicket victory in the opening T20I of the three-match series at the P Sara Oval stadium on Saturday.
Athapaththu claims top billing from Australia opener Beth Mooney on the back of her excellent series against New Zealand that netted a total of 248 runs from three matches and included an amazing knock of 140* from just 80 deliveries that helped Sri Lanka record an unlikely series triumph.
Sri Lanka have named a 15-player squad for the three-match ODI contests on Friday, with Athapaththu retaining her place as skipper for the ICC Women's Championship contests.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday announced the nominees of the women's Player of the Month for May with two star Sri Lankan players dominating the list.
A couple of Sri Lankan women players have recieved a boost in the latest ICC Women's ODI rankings. Sri Lanka recently hosted Bangladesh for a three-match ODI series in Colombo and it was the home side that came away victorious despite some intervention from the weather throughout the series.
With this win, New Zealand has climbed up to second place in the points table with two wins in four matches and two losses. They have a total of four points. Sri Lanka also has the same statistics but is in third place due to its inferior net-run rate
With this win, Australia has topped Group 1 with three wins in three games and six points. SL is at second with two wins in three matches and four points
Megan Schutt then took three wickets in the final over as Sri Lanka ended on 112 for eight before Healy (54 not out) and Mooney (56 not out) saw Australia home without losing a wicket.