Defending champs Navy SC inflict first defeat on Army SC A

Former Sri Lanka women’s cricketer Shashikala Siriwardene produced a fine all-round performance (53 and 3/8) for Navy SC 

Defending champions Navy SC inflicted on Army SC A their first defeat in the ongoing Women’s Inter-Club Division I (50-over) tournament when they pulled off a resounding 110-run win in a postponed league match played at the Army cricket grounds, Dombagoda yesterday.

The win coming with an additional bonus point propelled Navy SC to the top of the league standings with 25 points from six matches, leaving Army SC A trailing behind in third place with 23 points from six games. Air Force SC A who was occupying the top spot is now placed second with 24 points also from six matches.

Till yesterday Army SC A was the only side in the eight-team tournament to be undefeated.

Chasing a target of 182 Army SC A’s batting was destroyed for 71 by the left-arm spin of Sri Lanka Women’s cap Inoka Ranaweera who went on to take five wickets for 19 runs off 8.1 overs, and the off-breaks of ex-Sri Lanka cap Shashikala Siriwardene who proved an ideal foil finishing with three wickets for eight runs off seven overs.

Veteran Siriwardene displayed her all-around skills by top-scoring for Navy SC with an excellent half-century.   

Two half-century partnerships enabled Navy SC who won the toss and decided to bat first to run up a total of 181-7. Sri Lanka Women’s caps Hasini Perera (44) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (27) put on 61 for the second wicket which was followed by another worth 73 for the fifth wicket between Siriwardene and present national cap Sathya Sandeepani (27).

Siriwardene who began slowly, accelerated later in her inning to reach her half-century off 53 balls (4 fours) before being dismissed by off-spinner Sudarshika Bandara who ended up taking four wickets for 22 runs including the wicket of Sandeepani. -(ST)

Scores:

•Navy SC 181-7 (50) (Hasini Perera 44, Harshitha Samarawickrama 27, Shashikala Siriwardene 53, Sathya Sandeepani 27, Sudarshika Bandara 4/22)

•Army SC A 71 (28.1) (Anushka Sanjeewani 20, Inoka Ranaweera 5/19, Shashikala Siriwardene 3/8)