West Indies Clinch 2-1 Series Win Over Sri Lanka: Top Batters Shine in Tense Chase
The West Indies women’s cricket team wrapped up their exciting tour of Sri Lanka with a dramatic victory in the final Twenty20 International, which sealed a 2-1 series triumph.
The top three hitters for the West Indies masterfully managed the chase of 142 runs, even though the scoreline indicated a victory with one ball left to bowl.
Sri Lanka 141 for 7 (Athapaththu 38, Fletcher 2-25, Alleyne 2-25) lost to West Indies ladies 142 for 4 (Matthews 49, Campbelle 41*, Taylor 33, Kavindi 2-27) by six wickets.
Stafanie Taylor, Hayley Matthews, and Shemaine Campbelle, the West Indian top three, secured a victorious conclusion to a demanding tour of Sri Lanka by winning the third and final Twenty20 International at Hambantota by six wickets, capping a thrilling come-from-behind 2-1 series victory.
With one ball remaining, West Indies managed to chase down a target of 142, but Campbelle finished undefeated on a 30-ball 41. The visitors’ dominance during the chase, however, is undermined by the victory margin.
In just 48 deliveries, Taylor and Mathews put up a 60-run opening stand. Matthews then teamed up with Campbelle for a 51-run stand off 44 balls. The West Indies were on 111 for 2 when Matthews fell, trapped leg before trying to swipe one from Kawya Kavindi across the line.
Now that the requirement was at about run-a-ball, Campbelle handled the rest of the chase with skill. Chedean Nation and Aaliyah Alleyne were removed in the 18th and 19th overs, creating a dramatic finish, but there were no more hiccups thanks to some astute running in the last over, when only six runs were needed.
Prior to that, after putting Sri Lanka in to bat, West Indies made a perfect start, getting rid of Vishmi Gunaratne off the very first ball of the innings. The young, aggressive player, edged a pull attempt from Chinelle Henry.
Also Read: Athapaththu’s Record Breaking 195* Provides Sri Lanka Women Highest Ever ODI Chase
Despite the early loss, Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama rebounded impressively, partnering for a 55 from 54 score before Samarawickrama chipped one back to Afy Fletcher. After that, Athapaththu and Kavisha Dilhari shared a 25-ball stand of 34 runs, but Athapaththu fell as well, caught superbly in the deep by Shamilia Connell, who was making up for her earlier miscarriage of the same batter.
When the hosts would have been trying to accelerate, Athapaththu’s wicket fell in the 14th over and Dilhari’s (26 off 22) wicket in the 16th, both wonderfully taken by a leaping Henry at mid-off.
Ama Kanchana and Nilakshi de Silva delivered some late blows to push the total to 141, but Player of the Series Matthews and company gradually eased through what could have been a challenging chase.
