Match Details

NZW vs SLW 3rd T20, NZW vs SLW 2023

SLW

143-014.3

Sri Lanka Women won by 10 wickets 🏆

NZW

20.0140-9

Match info

Live

Scorecard

Player of the Match

SLW - 2nd Innings

Session	Open	PASS
6 Over	34	64
10 Over	94	96

NZW - 1st Innings

Session	Open	PASS
6 Over	34	43
10 Over	65	65
15 Over	101	104
20 Over	148	140

Commentary

So, that’s it from the three-match WT20I series between Sri Lanka & New Zealand. The visitors have won the series 2-1 but the Chamari Athapaththu-led side would gain a lot of confidence from this victory. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world. For now, this is Megh Mandaliya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Akshay Bhide alongside our scorer/analyst Dushyant Madhukar Kumar. Cheers!

Sophie Devine collects the trophy and her teammates join to pose for a photograph. All smiles in the New Zealand camp after winning the T20I series by a 2-1 margin.

Sophie Devine (New Zealand Women Captain): "We didn't score enough runs. As Suzie mentioned, the platform was there to score 150-160 but we failed to do so. And Chamari played well while chasing. We were disappointed to get down in the ODI series where we were outplayed but happy to bounce back in the T20I series and happy with how we fought"

Suzie Bates (Player of the Series): "Yes, it has been a bittersweet experience on this tour. I thought the ODIs were disappointing but Chamari Athapaththu played outstandingly and put us under pressure. We were under par with the bat today. But I think we have enjoyed our time in Sri Lanka, we have learned a lot from playing in these conditions, and we have seen how strong Sri Lanka are. It has been a real test for us and we will take all the positives. Not so pleased with today's performance. You always want to put your team in a winning position. It's nice to contribute but you always want more."

Suzie Bates is the Player of the Series.

Chamari Athapaththu (Player of the Match and Sri Lanka Women Captain): "Actually, this was a must-win game for us because of the rankings. My team did a fine job, especially the bowling department. Madavi is a very young girl and an upcoming player and she supported me nicely. I would like to thank everyone present here. The officials, teammates, media and I hope New Zealand loved their time here in Sri Lanka and hope to meet them soon."

Chamari Athapaththu is the Player of the Match.

1 PM IST and Local Time: Time for the post-match presentation.

12:37 PM IST and Local Time | A historic victory for Sri Lanka Women. This is the first time they have overpowered the White Ferns in T20Is after 12 consecutive defeats against them. This has been a phenomenal performance from the opening pair of Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Madavi and they have steered Sri Lanka to a massive victory to end the series on a positive note. This is also the first time Sri Lanka Women have won a T20I game by 10 wickets.

Chasing a competitive total of 141, Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Madavi propelled the hosts to a rollicking start. Athapaththu went all guns blazing inside the powerplay and thumped two boundaries in the first over. The New Zealand bowlers went on a short ball rampage against the Sri Lankan skipper but Athapaththu was unflustered and collected boundaries at regular intervals. Madavi ably supported her skipper and kept rotating the strike.

The Kiwi bowlers also erred in line early on and delivered 8 wides just inside the powerplay. Both Athapaththu and Madavi offered no respite and accumulated 64 runs off the powerplay. Athapaththu brought up her 7th T20I half-century in just 25 deliveries. Madavi also kept knocking around and ensured there are no hiccups in the chase. Athapaththu 80*(47) and Madavi 49*(40) stitched an exceptional 143-run opening partnership, which is the highest partnership for Sri Lanka in the shortest format. It was simply a disappointing bowling display from New Zealand and they were unable to find a breakthrough.

Earlier in the day, after being invited to bat first, Suzie Bates and Isabella Gaze shepherded the innings for the White Ferns and powered them to a solid start. The right-handed Bates continued her blistering form in the series and batted deftly in the field restrictions. Isabella Gaze played the second fiddle to her and cashed in on the looseners. Both the right-handers helped New Zealand notch up 43 runs off the powerplay before Inoka Ranaweera was brought into the attack and had an immediate impact on the game. The left-arm spinner dismissed Gaze 13(14), who was cleaned up attempting a reverse sweep.

The Sri Lankan bowlers were successful to dry up the boundaries following the departure of Gaze and Amelia Kerr eventually succumbed to pressure and threw her wicket away at 14(14). The right-hander Bates also aggregated 37(38) before she was outwitted by Kavisha Dilhari. With wickets tumbling at the other end, the New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine counterattacked and steadied the ship. Devine swatted a much-needed 46(25) but lacked support from the other end. The visitors lost a cluster of wickets at the backend of the innings as Sri Lanka restricted them to 140/9. Inoka Ranaweera was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts and finished her stint with excellent figures of 3/15.

So, the White Ferns fail to register a whitewash as a commanding batting performance from Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Madavi has helped Sri Lanka notch up a consolation victory. Stick around for the post-match presentation!

14.3 M Penfold to H Madavi

4 Third boundary of the over and Harshitha Madavi finishes things in style. Penfold bowls it full on the pads, Madavi gets underneath this one and whips it over mid wicket for a boundary. With this, Sri Lanka Women beat New Zealand Women by 10 wickets and avoid a whitewash.

14.2 M Penfold to H Madavi

4 FOUR!!!! Another short ball and another boundary for Madavi. Banged in short by Penfold on middle, Madavi swivels and pulls it aerially behind square in the leg side. Splits the gap between fine leg and deep backward square leg perfectly to collect another boundary.

14.2 M Penfold to H Madavi

WD Penfold bowls it on a length way outside the tramline in the off side and wide signaled by the umpire.

14.1 M Penfold to H Madavi

4 FOUR!!!! Penfold from round the wicket bangs it short on the stumps, Madavi is quick to pick the length as she swivels and pulls it handsomely over mid wicket for a boundary. One bounce and into the fence.

OVER 14

Sri Lanka Women

130/0

Chamari Athapaththu

80(47)

Harshitha Madavi

37(37)

Brooke Halliday

0-6(1.0)

13.6 B Halliday to H Madavi

1 Fuller delivery on the pads and Madavi pushes it towards deep mid wicket for a run. Keeps the strike for the next over.

13.5 B Halliday to C Athapaththu

1 Short delivery well outside off and cut away to the sweeper in the off side for a single.

13.4 B Halliday to H Madavi

1 A low full on the pads and Madavi clips it through square leg to rotate the strike.

13.3 B Halliday to C Athapaththu

1 Shorter in length on the stumps and Athapaththu flicks it towards deep square leg for a single.

13.2 B Halliday to H Madavi

1 Short outside off, Madavi cuts it hard and Carson at point dives to her left to get a hand to it. Keeps it to one.