Sri Lanka wins the thriller against the host

Sri Lanka Women registered a 3-run win over host South Africa in the opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup on Friday at Cape Town. South Africa captain Sune Luus won the coin toss and elected to field first.

After losing the toss, Sri Lanka managed to score 129 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in their 20 overs. Sri Lanka had a slow start and lost Harshitha Madavi just when the score at 28 runs. Following Harshitha’s dismissal, 17-year-old Vishmi Gunaratne joined Chamari Atapaththu for an 86-run partnership for the second wicket.Vishmi Gunaratne scored a valuable 35 runs. Skipper Chamari Atapaththu made his sixth T20I fifty and scored 68 runs. Marizanne Kapp kept things tight for South Africa in the later stages of the innings, taking one wicket for 15 runs.

In response, South Africa scored 126 runs in 20 overs for the loss of nine wickets. The South African top order got things going, but no one was able to convert it into big innings. Skipper Sune Luus was the top scorer with 28 runs. Laura Wolvaardt scored 18 runs. Sri Lankan spinners kept things tight and put pressure on South Africa. For Sri Lanka, Inoka Ranaweera claimed 3 wickets while Oshadi Ranasinghe and Sugandika Kumari took 2 wickets each.