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Kavisha Dilhari receives the Player of the Match award from Sri Lanka Cricket executive committee member Nalin Aponso
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
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From left: Kavisha Dilhari and Harshitha Samarawickrama celebrate Sri Lanka’s victory over Bangladesh in the second WT20I at the SSC grounds yesterday
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Sri Lanka came back strongly in the second Women’s T20I to defeat Bangladesh by seven wickets and level the three-match series 1-all at the SSC grounds yesterday.
It was a much improved and clinical performance by the hosts who were found wanting in the first WT20I which they lost to Bangladesh by six wickets on Tuesday.
Winning the toss and inviting the opposition to bat first, Sri Lanka strangled the Bangladeshi batters with spin on a slow helpful surface to bundle them out for 100 in 18.3 overs.
Sri Lanka knocked the runs off in 18.3 overs reaching 101-3 with skipper Chamari Athapaththu once again setting the pace with a power-packed 33 off 27 balls (6 fours, 1 six) out of an opening partnership of 43 with Vishmi Gunaratne (12).
Harshitha Samarawickrama (29*) and Kavisha Dilhari (20*) took over from there onwards to steer Sri Lanka home comfortably putting together an unbroken stand of 33. The pair ran their singles and twos diligently placing the Bangladeshi fielders under pressure all the time.
Bangladesh made a sound start to their innings reaching 53-1 in the ninth over before spinners Oshadi Ranasinghe, Sugandika Kumari, Inoka Ranaweera and Kavisha Dilhari took over to stifle the opposition that saw Bangladesh score a boundary only twice in their last 11 overs – a four and a six.
Even though Sri Lanka won with ease their catching was awful with at least four of them going to ground. It could have been a different story to the result had not the spinners got into the act and deceived the batters with their tempting flight and tantalysing spin.
Kavisha Dilhari with an unbeaten 20 to go with her two wickets was named Player of the Match.
The decisive third and final WT20I will take place at the same venue today commencing 1 pm.
Sri Lanka women’s captain Chamari Athapaththu is stumped by Shamima Sultana for 33
