South Africa women’s cricket team put in a superb performance in the final match of the first round of the women’s ‘Servo’ Cup tri-series involving India, South Africa and Sri Lanka. In that match, they managed to win by 76 runs against Sri Lanka.
This was their only win of the tournament and in this match, Annerie Dercksen scored a century and Chloe Tryon took a hat-trick for South Africa.
Sri Lanka team joins today’s match with two changes. Manudi Nanayakkara and Inoshi Priyadarshani have been included in the team, replacing Kavisha Dilhari and Inoka Ranaweera, who had joined the previous match.
After winning the toss, the opposing South African players, who entered the field to bat first, scored 315 runs for the loss of 9 wickets.
Despite the scoreboard at the end of their innings, they had scored only 85 runs after losing the first 5 wickets. It is noteworthy that the 19-year-old right-arm off-spinner Devmi Wihanga managed to take all 5 wickets.
She ended the match with 5 wickets for 43 runs, which also became her best bowling figures in ODIs.
In the first leg of the match, the Sri Lankan players, including her, showed their skills, but then they had to fall victim to a strong attack by the South Africans. It started with Nondumiso Shangase (18) and Annerie Dercksen building a partnership of 42 runs in 57 balls for the 6th wicket.
Then Annerie Dercksen and Chloe Tryon added 112 runs in 88 balls for the 7th wicket. That partnership was broken with the dismissal of Annerie Dercksen. By then, she had scored 104 runs in 84 balls with 9 fours and 5 sixes. It was her maiden ODI century.
After that wicket partnership, Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk were able to add 66 runs in 24 balls for the 8th wicket. That partnership was broken with the dismissal of Chloe Tryon. She had scored 74 runs off 51 balls, including 4 fours and 5 sixes. With that score, she also managed to cross the 2000-run mark in ODIs.
At the end of the South African innings, Nadine de Klerk was unbeaten on 32 runs off 19 balls, including a four and two sixes.
In addition to Deedewmi Vihanga, Chamari Atapattu took two wickets and Manudi Nanayakkara took one wicket.
Chasing 316 to win, Sri Lanka could only manage 239 runs with all out. Hasini Perera and Vishmee Gunaratne put on a 52-run stand for the opening wicket in 56 balls.
Hasini Perera, like in previous matches, scored 30 runs in 26 balls with 5 fours. Vishmee Gunaratne scored 24 runs in 41 balls. The innings also included 3 fours.
Harshitha Samarawickrama then scored 33 runs in 38 balls with 3 fours and skipper Chamari Atapattu scored 52 runs in 57 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes. It is noteworthy that she scored this half-century after 4 innings of her innings.
From there, Nilakshika Silva was dismissed for 14 and Manudi Nanayakkara for 13, while Devmi Vihanga was also dismissed for 16. Her dismissal saw Sugandika Kumari and Malki Madara also fall in consecutive balls, paving the way for left-arm spinner Chloe Tryon to take a hat-trick.
Following those dismissals, Inoshi Priyadarshani was also run out as the final wicket, ending the Sri Lankan innings. That was with 43 balls remaining. By then, Anushka Sanjeevani had scored 43 not out off 32 balls, including four fours and a six.
In the wicket-taking, Chloe Tryon took 5 wickets for 34 runs, which was her best bowling figures in ODI history. In addition, Ayabonga Khaka took two wickets, while Miane Smit and Seshnie Naidu took one wicket each.
The final of the Women’s Tri-Nation Cricket Tournament between Sri Lanka and India is scheduled to be held on May 11 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.