Silver Ferns come back with a vengeance to win second WODI

 New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine struck centuries apiece during their 229-run partnership

Kavisha Dilhari played a lone hand for Sri Lanka with her maiden WODI fifty

• Three-match series stands level at 1-all

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine scored a century apiece and shared a third wicket partnership of 229 as New Zealand came roaring back from defeat to beat Sri Lanka by 116 runs in the second WODI and level the three-match series 1-all at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Smarting from their nine-wicket defeat in the first WODI, New Zealand winning the toss and taking first lease of the wicket rattled off 329-7 riding high on the double century stand between Kerr and Devine who took control of the innings after Sri Lanka had picked up the first two wickets for 57 by the tenth over.

The pair gained total dominance of the Lankan bowlers with Kerr playing a rather subdued knock of 108 off 106 balls (7 fours, 1 six) in comparison to her partner Devine who’s robust innings of 137 of 121 balls contained 17 fours and two sixes. Once the partnership was broken the Lankan lasses gained some ascendency picking five wickets for 43 runs before the New Zealand innings came to an end.

Pick of the Lankan bowlers was left-arm seamer who bowled nine economical overs for 38 capturing two wickets. Off-spinner Oshadie Ranasinghe although taking three wickets was somewhat on the expensive side conceding 68 runs in her ten overs.

To make it a successful run chase or to get anywhere closer to their target of 330, Sri Lanka needed a strong platform to launch their innings. However for reasons best known to them Sri Lanka did not open the batting with their most experienced player and Captain Chamari Athapaththu but with Vishmi Gunaratne and Hasitha Samarawickrama. The move didn’t pay dividends as fast-medium bowler Lea Tahuhu’s double strike in the sixth over – dismissing Gunaratne (12) and the prize wicket of Athapaththu (who batted at number 3) for a golden duck, saw Sri Lanka’s top order collapse to be 35-4 in the eighth over. From there onwards it was a real uphill struggle for Sri Lanka to match wits with the Silver Ferns.

Despite 22-year-old Kavisha Dilhari scoring a valiant 84 off 98 balls (9 fours) – her maiden WODI fifty, Sri Lanka were nowhere near to giving New Zealand a contest. They were helped to their final total of 218 by an unusual number of wides bowled by New Zealand – 26 that contributed towards an extras total of 38. The third and deciding WODI will take place at Galle on Monday 3 July.

Scores: New Zealand Women 329-7 (50) (Bernadine Bezuidenhout 25, Amelia Kerr 108, Sophie Devine 137, Udeshika Prabodhani 2/38, Kawya Kavindi 3/68)

Sri Lanka Women 213 (48.4) (Kavisha Dilhari 84, Extras 38, Lea Tahuhu 4/31, Eden Carson 2/41)