By Srian Obeyesekere
Opening batter Kate Anderson struck a match winning 84 off 108 balls to help New Zealand A Women clinch the decisive third and final unofficial ODI against Sri Lanka Women by 84 runs in the rain affected 3-match series yesterday at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium after the first two games were rain abandoned.
The Lankans would be ruing two squandered opportunities. First when they had the Kiwis in a bad spot on 69 for 3 in 16.3 overs, and again when the batters failed to capitalise on a 67 for 1 wicket stand off 13.1 overs between Sanjana Kavindi who struck struck a defiant 79 off 73 with10 boundaries and 3 sixes, and Vishmi Gunsratne 24 off 38 as they were bowled out for 149 in 33.2 overs chasing a DNS revised target of 234 in 38 overs.
Except for a next best 24 off 39 by Piumi Wathsala, the rest squandered the good start with skipper Sathya Sandeepani falling for a first ball duck as the Kiwi bowlers got on top with the trio of Marama Downes 4 wickets for 18 runs, Bella Armstrong 3 for 39 and J.A. Watkins 2 for 3 spot on.
Chief scores:
New Zealand A Women 273/8 50 Overs
Kate Anderson 84, Bella Armstrong 59, Jess Watkins 36, Kayley Knight 38, Tharuka Shehani 4/64, Chamodi Praboda 2/37.
Sri Lanka A Women 149 33.2 Overs
Sanjana Kavindi 79, Piumi Wathsala 24, Vishmi Gunaratne 23, Marama Downes 4/18, Bella Armstrong 3/39, J.A. Watkins 2/3