Staff Writer – Archi
West Indies women’s team showed tremendous character to clinch the One-Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka by winning the third ODI by 33 runs in Dambulla, Sri Lanka last week.
After winning the first ODI, the visitors went down to Sri Lanka in the second match and thus faced a must-win situation to wrap up the three-match series.
The Windies batswomen failed to click as the side could manage only 191 runs for nine wickets in their allotted 50 overs after being asked to bat, but their bowlers rose to the occasion to defend the small total.
Sri Lanka took advantage of their decision to field when they reduced West Indies to 51 for 4 within the first 15 overs. Eshani Kaushalya and Chamani Seneviratna struck twice each to halt the Windies run flow. Merissa Aguilleoira and Deandra Dottin tried to steady the innings putting up 42 runs in 14 overs. But both of them were dismissed in quick succession as Dottin fell for 16 and Aguilleira was stumped for 29. Shemaine Campbelle continued her good form with a fluent 37 building up a stand with Kyshona Knight and Shakera Selman.
Shermaine Campbelle. Photo courtesy zimbio.com
The hosts got off to a cautious start but lost both their openers within a span of four runs, at 31 and 35. West Indies did not let the hosts settle down from there, striking at regular intervals. Tremayne Smartt led the challenge picking up two of the five top order wickets for 26 runs which also included three run-outs of Dilani Manodara, Eshani Kaushalya and Chamani Seneviratna. The Sri Lankan tail failed to continue the fight for long as West Indies continued their habit of defending low scores from the World Cup where thy finished as runners-up.
Brief scores: West Indies 191/ 9 (Campbelle 37, Seneviratna 4-33) bt Sri Lanka 158/9 (Siriwardene 29, Smartt 2-26) by 33 runs
