Poor batting by Sri Lanka Women allows New Zealand to level series

Monday, 17 March 2025 01:35 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

New Zealand Women’s Captain Suzie Bates starred with bat and ball

Strong all-round performances from Suzie Bates and Brooke Halliday, along with a breakout bowling display from Bree Illing, helped New Zealand breeze to a seven-wicket win against Sri Lanka in the second WT20I played at Christchurch yesterday to level the series at 1-1.

New Zealand’s bowlers set the tone with a frugal display after winning the toss and elected to bowl, restricting Sri Lanka to 113-7 in their 20 overs before Bates and Halliday made 47 off 46 (4 fours) and 46* off 40 (5 fours), respectively, as the hosts cruised home with seven wickets and nine balls to spare. Bates was named Player of the Match after also bowling four overs for just 16 runs, while Halliday also took 1/12 with the ball in addition to posting her highest T20I score.

Illing made use of the early morning start, picking up a wicket in the opening over and a second in the seventh, as she bowled straight with the new ball to finish with figures of 2/18 in just her second T20I after going wicketless in her debut in game one of the series on Friday.

Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu was well held as Eden Carson, Jess Kerr, and Bates were rotated at the other end, with the latter bowling a maiden to Athapaththu in her first over. The scoreboard pressure told when Kerr castled her for 23 off 29 in the following over, the ninth of the innings, with Sri Lanka stalled at 46-3. That soon became 53-4 when debutant Flora Devsonshire picked up a wicket in her first over in international cricket.

Sri Lanka steadied thanks to a 54-run stand between Manudi Nanayakkara and Nilakshi Silva. Nanayakkara made 35 from 32 with four boundaries, while Silva made 20 from 22. But neither player could break free as Bates bowled four overs for just 16 runs, while Halliday also took a wicket in her two overs for 11 runs. Kerr took a wicket in the final over to finish with figures of 2/29.

New Zealand’s chase started poorly, with Georgia Plimmer caught behind in the second over for just 4. Emma McLeod followed suit in the seventh over for a sluggish 11 from 13, but Bates controlled the chase at the other before she was caught and bowled brilliantly by Inoshi Priyadharshani in the 15th over with 29 still needed to win.

Halliday ensured they were knocked off with ease, striking multiple boundaries in both the 16th and 18th overs to steer her side home.

The series will be decided in the third T20I in Dunedin on Tuesday.

Scores:

Sri Lanka Women 113-7 (20) (Chamari Athapaththu 23, Manudi Nanayakkara 35, Nilakshika Silva 20, Bree Illing 2/18, Jess Kerr 2/29)

New Zealand Women 117-3 (18.3) (Suzie Bates 47, Brooke Halliday 46*)

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