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Captain Chamari Athapaththu’s half-century and a clinical bowling display by spinners helped Sri Lanka create history at County Ground, Chelmsford on September 2. Sri Lanka women registered their first-ever T20I win over England in T20I cricket. In the second T20I of the three-T20I series, Sri Lanka beat England by eight wickets with 40 balls to spare.
Sri Lanka women played their first T20I against England in 2009. After 10 losses from 12 games (two ended in no result), Sri Lanka ended the streak with a convincing win on English soil.
Athapaththu won the toss and opted to field first. The skipper opened the bowling and got the wicket of Danielle Wyatt. No England batter could make an impact as Sri Lankan spinners tightened the screws. After England were reduced to 66/8 in the 13th over, the partnership between Charlotte Dean and Sarah Glenn helped England post 104. Dean scored 34 runs from 26 balls. England got all out with two overs left in the innings.
In the run chase, Sri Lanka lost the wicket of Anushka Sanjeewani in the second over. Athapaththu went on a rampage against Kate Cross with three fours and a six in third over. In the seventh over, she took on Dean and hit her for two fours and a six. On the other end, Harshitha Samarawickrama tried to rotate the strike. Athapaththu reached her ninth T20I half-century from 26 deliveries.
In the 10th over, Alice Capsey got the wicket of the Sri Lankan opener but it turned out to be a consolation. She scored 55 runs from 31 balls including eight fours and two sixes. The third-wicket partnership between Samarawickrama and Vishmi Gunaratne ensured that Sri Lanka got over the line. Harshitha finished the run chase in style with a six in the 14th over as Sri Lanka created history.
In the previous T20I, rain played spoilsport. Hosts England won the game by 12 runs (DLS method). The decider will be played on September 6 at County Ground, Derby and the visitors will look to create history.
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