Sri Lanka keen to extend historic win into a series victory

Sri Lanka Women’s head coach Rumesh Ratnayake during practice with Sri Lanka players Sugandika Kumari and Imesha Dulani 

• Second Women’s ODI v New Zealand at Galle today
• Chamari coming back to form is a bonus says head coach Ratnayake
• Praises ICC for introduction of Women’s Championship

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Having won the first battle in the three-match Women’s ODI series against New Zealand, Sri Lanka are keen to extend that into a winning habit in the second ODI commencing at the Galle International Cricket Stadium today.A win today would bring Sri Lanka another historic achievement against New Zealand because it would give them an unbeatable lead in the series.                                                                             

“The win is a first, what we have to do is capitalise on it, not make it a fluke, but have the consistency,” said Sri Lanka Women’s head coach Rumesh Ratnayake looking ahead to today's match.

 “Consistency is the thing which we are working on. Our history two years ago has been a good win and then a lull. It’s a matter of making them believe mentally and to be strong mentally to know that they can compete with the best in the world.

“ The team is jelling well. They are in a good space where they are enjoying the environment. They are free to do whatever they want and that’s what matters to me. We have to know that New Zealand is a very strong team but we have to be stronger. We have to continue ball by ball, stage by stage, remember the processes, not think of history and be overawed by it.” 

“Winning certainly helps the process, but it’s no guarantee, we have to strive harder and be smarter in all aspects of the game. Now that we know that we can beat them, that should give us an advantage. They will come harder at us, we have to brace ourselves and we have to be smart and harder also.”    

“In preparation for the series Ratnayake said that the squad managed to get a lot of footage on the New Zealand batting and bowling on many types of matches ODIs and T20Is not only against countries, but also franchises and local matches. When the start got delayed we were watching footage on their batters how to get them out, or their bowlers how they were being hammered, not them taking wickets. It was on a roll for the past two weeks from 1 June. If you’re the bowler, you have to own that batsman. That’s the sort of thing which I am building up. The girls are so smart and they are very keen. Unfortunately, we don’t have any backups. Our bench is thin, we need to build it.”                                                                                “Our preparations for the series were fantastic. We faced much faster bowlers than this. New Zealand has the best leg spinner in the world so I wanted them to face many types of leg spinners and all the bowlers were provincial under 17 and under 19 boys. If our training is not as prepared as that we can’t compete with a team like New Zealand. We will make sure to remind ourselves that it is hard work and it is smart work which in the end brings us the win. Playing smart cricket is the norm of the day. It is smart cricket that wins matches.”Commenting on the match-winning century scored by the captain Chamari Athapaththu, Ratnayake said, “Chamari’s skill acquisition is not there with everybody, but the thing is if she gives us a good start the process becomes easier. She is scoring a hundred after a long time which certainly helps.

 I hope she continues, but saying that it’s nice to have her in form. All these days, the matches in South Africa (T20 World Cup) and against Bangladesh we won without her big contribution. But I was happy because I knew it was going to come, and when it comes, it’s a bonus. Chamari coming back to form is a bonus.”                                                                                                                                     Ratnayake praised the ICC for introducing the ICC Women’s Championship which has given small cricketing nations like Sri Lanka an opportunity to play with top sides like Australia, England, New Zealand, etc. which they would not have got if matches were to be arranged at bilateral level between the two Cricket Boards.                                                                                                                                            “Meeting this sort of opposition helps less strong countries to develop their cricket.  There is a lot of interest, it certainly helps The ICC has taken the initiative of taking this game to another level. The World Cups and all those things certainly help, it’s huge.”