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By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Sri Lanka Under-19 women’s cricketers team captain Vishmi Gunaratne expressed confidence that they had a team of players who could win the Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup in South Africa.
Vishmi is leading a 15-member squad that has been put through its paces by head coach Shashikala Siriwardene, the former Sri Lanka women’s captain and her assistant Jayathu Neelaweera, former Sri Sumangala College, Panadura first 11 captain and Matara district coach.
Sri Lanka’s opening fixture of the World Cup is three days away on 14 January against USA at Benoni, but in the meantime they have two warm-up games against UAE on Monday and Scotland on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka had no difficulty in beating UAE by 52 runs with Wadduwa Central College’s opening batter Nethmi Senarathna scoring a confident half-century with five fours and two sixes out of a total of 90-9. UAE’s batting was undone by spinners Dewmi Vihanga (3/4) and Vidushika Perera (3/5) who bundled them out for 38 in 13.3 overs.
Vishmi attributed the improvement shown by her team to the hard work put in by the head coach Shashikala and her assistant Neelaweera.
“With the limited time we had they worked tirelessly at practice, and we were able to correct our mistakes and show some progress in our cricket. We have the USA, Bangladesh and Australia in our group,” said Vishmi.
“If we can win matches in the first round it will be to our advantage. Our coach Jayathu says our batting and bowling is good and that we give off our best when fielding. We are all one as a team and likewise, we have some excellent players in the side. We can certainly win the World Cup.” Shashikala said that because of the work done by Sri Lanka Cricket and the schools, and the programs laid out by them, they were able to put out a good squad.
“We know that every two years we have this World Cup, and there is an awareness in women’s cricket that from the younger age to get to a higher level,” said Shashikala.
“When we played, one of the biggest shortcomings was that there was no talent emerging from below. It has been made quite clear during this World Cup with the preparations that have gone before it, that we can bring the standard of our cricket to a higher level, because it affords other talented players to emerge from the schools.”
“The talent and skills these girls displayed during national pool training was quite pleasing. If they can bring out their mental skills and talent at the required time, they will be able to give off their maximum and be a fighting unit.”
Sri Lanka U-19 women’s squad: Captain Vishmi Gunaratne (Rathnavali Girls School, Gampaha), Dahami Sanethma (Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena), Umaya Rathnayake (Rathnavali Girls School, Gampaha), Rashmi Nethranjalee (Devapathiraja National School, Rathgama), Rashmika Sewwandi (Anura College, Matara), Dewmi Vihanga (Rathnavali Girls School, Gampaha), Manudi Nanayakkara (Princess of Wales College, Moratuwa), Sumudu Nisansala (Devapathiraja National School, Rathgama), Pamoda Shaini (Anura College, Matara), Vidushika Perera (Rathnavali Girls School, Gampaha), Dulanga Dissanayake (Anula College, Nugegoda), Rishmi Sanjana (Anura College, Matara), Nethmi Senarathne (Wadduwa Central College, Wadduwa), Harini Perera (Princess of Wales College, Moratuwa), Vihara Sewwandi (Devapathiraja National School, Rathgama)
Scores:
