166/7 (20.0)
CR : 8.30
173/3 (20.0)
CR : 8.65
Ireland Women won by 7 runs π
Player of the Match
Gaby Lewis
119(75)
11:31 PM IST, 7:01 PM Local Time: The Ireland Women script history as they defeat Sri Lanka by 7 runs to level the two-match T20I series 1-1. It is also the first occasion in the history of the format that Ireland have managed to beat the Sri Lankan women side.
Ireland won the toss, decided to bat first and put up a challenging 173/3 on the back of 119 in 75 balls from opener Gaby Lewis. Only Shashini Gimhani (1/24) and Achini Kulasuriya (1/36) managed a wicket for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka lost two wickets inside their batting powerplay but Harshitha Samarawickrama led their comeback hitting 65 in 44 balls with 9 fours and 3 sixes. She got huge support in Kavisha Dilhari who kept the match alive until the final over with her unbeaten 51 in 48 balls hitting 4 fours and a six.
Orla Prendergast (2/28) and Freya Sargent (2/36) picked up crucial wickets with Ava Canning (1/10) and Jane Maguire (1/26) bowling some real good overs to keep Ireland in the hunt. It was Arlene Kelly to deliver the goods in the final over and did well to defend 16 in 6 balls to help Irish level the series.
Ireland won the toss, decided to bat first and put up a challenging 173/3 on the back of 119 in 75 balls from opener Gaby Lewis. Only Shashini Gimhani (1/24) and Achini Kulasuriya (1/36) managed a wicket for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka lost two wickets inside their batting powerplay but Harshitha Samarawickrama led their comeback hitting 65 in 44 balls with 9 fours and 3 sixes. She got huge support in Kavisha Dilhari who kept the match alive until the final over with her unbeaten 51 in 48 balls hitting 4 fours and a six.
Orla Prendergast (2/28) and Freya Sargent (2/36) picked up crucial wickets with Ava Canning (1/10) and Jane Maguire (1/26) bowling some real good overs to keep Ireland in the hunt. It was Arlene Kelly to deliver the goods in the final over and did well to defend 16 in 6 balls to help Irish level the series.
Time for the presentations.
Anushka Sanjeewani (Sri Lanka Women Captain): "First of all, congratulations to Ireland. We played well, but weren't good enough on the day. We need to talk about fielding standards and bowling strategies and hope to do well. We need to do well and hope the girls bounce back well in the next games."
Player of the Match: Gaby Lewis.
Player of the Series: Gaby Lewis
Gaby Lewis (Player of the Match and Series): "Yes, it was pretty quick. We ran well and built up partnerships. Kudos to bowlers. It was a good wicket and to defend the score was great to see. Great from Kelly to bowl that last over. I knew the seamers were hitting the right areas. It came off today and hope to do well. It's absolutely brilliant to beat the Asia Cup champions and do well for the team. Chuffed to do well for the side."
Laura Delany (Ireland Women Captain): "Its not ideal. Will just wait and see how the injury pulls up in the next couple of days. It will be huge for our confidence. We had a tough tournament in Abu Dhabi but we decided we're gonna stick to a certain style of play and I think that's worked against Australia, South Africa and here today against Sri Lanka so we need to keep backing that and its gonna give us a lot of confidence heading in the ODI series.
I think just keep playing with freedom and style of cricket that you wanna play. Take the game on is the key message in the format. If you wanna beat the best sides in the format, we have to have a good powerplay. I thought Gaby batted insanely today. She was absolutely brilliant and well supported.
A player who's been left out comes in and makes full use of their opportunity, she did that here today. She was really clear in her plans and she was confident. Ultimately played a massive role and the team won today.
We have a slight change in the ODI squad. Just keep building on this confidence and keep playing our game."
I think just keep playing with freedom and style of cricket that you wanna play. Take the game on is the key message in the format. If you wanna beat the best sides in the format, we have to have a good powerplay. I thought Gaby batted insanely today. She was absolutely brilliant and well supported.
A player who's been left out comes in and makes full use of their opportunity, she did that here today. She was really clear in her plans and she was confident. Ultimately played a massive role and the team won today.
We have a slight change in the ODI squad. Just keep building on this confidence and keep playing our game."
That's it from the presentation and that will be all from our coverage of this exciting 2-match T20I series between Ireland Women and Sri Lanka Women. Ninaad Dixit here signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Ayan Chatterjee and scorer Raju Khariya. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world.