Lankan women enter T20 series with confidence

Sri Lanka women’s cricket team fought back to win the ODI series 2-1 against  Bangladesh and is expect to continue good momentum to win the T-20  series  which will commence today at  Sylhet, Bangladesh.

“0ur players  played really  well and showed their potential at the ODI series which give good confidence before the T- 20 series,” said skipper Chamari Athpaththu.  The team effort  was the key to success in the ODI series while both experienced and  young players  gave their best to grab the victory.

The skipper really impressed with Imesha Dulani’s performance who made two fifties in first and third ODIs of this series. The 24-year-old right hander Imesha  who won the Player of the ODI Series still has played seven ODIs.  But she has proven her potential to become a promising batter  and the credit must go the Selectors to  chose this type of players to the National team. The skipper further said present women’s cricket  progress is very good and Sri Lanka Cricket give good support to women’s cricket development.

“We saw under 19 youngsters are also in good form  in recent tournaments.  The women’s cricket set up in Sri Lanka is very good at the moment and  we have good domestic structure  while  we all are focus on next Women’s T-20 World Cup in England, next June and this Bangladesh T-20 series is very important before the World Cup,” added skipper Athapaththu.

Sri  Lanka women’s new head coach Jamie Siddons  and his supporting staff  Chamila Gamage (fast bowling coach), Sajeewa Weerakoon (spin coach) and Batting coach Duminda Perera are work hard to get the best out of players focusing  on next World Cup in England .

Sri Lanka  Women’s cricket team  brought two new medium pace bowlers  Rashmika Sewwandi  the under 19 vice captain and Mithali Ayodhya  the promising player from Kanthale to strengthen the fast bowling department at the T-20 tournament while Malki Madara who was  among  the wickets during the ODI series is also in the  T-20 squad .

Hasini Perera the opener who made her career best knock of 95 against Bangladesh in the last ODI game  with  skipper Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Imesha Dulani, Hansima Karunaratne are the key batters of the side. All-rounder Kavisha Dilhari  and spinners Inoka Ranaweera, Suigandika Kumari, Nimesha Madushani and Dewmi Vihanga are the key spinners of the side. Sri Lanka always heavily depend on spinners  in this format while skipper Athpaththu is also a useful off spinner of the side.

Bangladesh led by Nigar Sulthana have the services of Niahida Akter, Sharmin Akter, Marufar Akter , Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni  as the key players of the side and they also will come up with a good challenge against Sri Lanka.

Source: Daily news