New Zealand woman 147 for 7 wickets (Bates 34, Ranvira 3-30, Ranasinghe 2-31) defeated sri lanka women 102 for 8 (de Silva 36, Jensen 3-5, Carson 2-30) by 45 runs
Sri Lanka have never beaten New Zealand in T20Is and it was theirs to change the record when the spinners were working in the middle overs – New Zealand could only manage 67 runs for the loss of five wickets between overs 7 and 16. However, after a strong finish from New Zealand, Sri Lanka refused after a dedication from their own batsmen.
Bates, Divine Going
Despite the spin twins’ slow assisting track, New Zealand went on to score 41 without a single when the fielding ban ended.
Ranvira, Ranasinghe triggers fall
Ranasinghe struck twice in his third over to trigger a collapse. She had earlier brilliantly caught Maddie Green at the hands of Anoushka Sanjeevani before the wicketkeeper took another brilliant diving catch after running towards point to end to end Bates’ stay. From 51 to no, New Zealand had slipped to 79 for 4, falling to 89 for 5 when Jensen was stumped.
tahuhu, batter
While Brooke Holiday and Isabella Gage – the latter batting for the first time in international cricket – revived the innings, it was not until Tahuhu went out that New Zealand’s finish received the desired impetus.
He hit a four and a six off successive deliveries from Ranveera and took New Zealand to close to 150 before helping them score 13 runs in the final over of the innings. Tahuhu got 20 runs off eight balls.
Sri Lanka cheaply
Hasini Pereira was oblivious to Jensen’s swing and Tahuhu’s pace, piled on the dots. A delectable cross-batting shot from Vishmi Gunaratne at mid-on before Jensen ended Perera’s misery. Jensen also finished Sanjeevani for 3 for 5 in four overs.
Though they managed to cross the hundred-run mark, the result was almost inevitable after early exchanges in the chase.
