Sri Lanka will meet India in the Women’s Tri-Nation ODI Series final at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo today, commencing at 10.00 a.m.
Entry to the final is free for the public with the gates opened from 9.00 a.m.
Sri Lanka will hope star batter Harshitha Samarawickrama continues to fire against India in key clashes as her 61-ball 53 played a pivotal role in the hosts’ win in a league match.
Samarawickrama will also draw confidence from her match-winning knock against India in the T20 Asia Cup final last year, which had powered the Islanders to an eight-wicket victory.
With two fifties and 177 runs in four matches, the left-handed Samarawickrama has been Sri Lanka’s best batter in this series.
Sri Lanka’s Captain and key all-rounder Chamari Atapattu, with 88 runs and five wickets in four matches, hasn’t been at her best so far and her contributions in the summit clash could also influence its outcome.
Dewmi Vihanga (nine wickets) has had the strongest of impacts in the competition among Lankan bowlers but the Indians have negated her well earlier in the tournament. India’s lone defeat in this event came against Sri Lanka but Harmanpreet Kaur’s side has been the most dominant team, finishing at the top of the points table with three wins from four matches.
Sri Lanka finished second with two wins and as many losses while South Africa finished at the bottom with only one win in four games.
Winning this contest will also be paramount for both India and Sri Lanka as it would help them in the build-up to the ODI World Cup later this year.
India’s fine run here has largely been because of its excellent batting effort.
With 201 runs at an average of 67, including a century (123) against South Africa, Jemimah Rodrigues has been India’s best batter.
Others like Pratika Rawal (164), Smriti Mandhana (148) and Deepti Sharma (126) have proved to be the vital cogs.
Deepti’s 93 consolidated India’s position against South Africa in a league match, assuring muscle with the bat in the lower-order.
Skipper Harmanpreet, however, hasn’t had any big scores to her credit so far. However, her 41 not out, 30 and 28 in the last three matches indicate a big knock could be around the corner.
Sneh Rana has been the best bowler in the competition, taking 11 wickets, which included a five-wicket haul against South Africa.
Sri Lanka Squad:
Chamari Atapattu (Captain), Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshi Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani, Hasini Perera, Piumi Wathsala, Manudi Nanayakkara, Dewmi Vihanga, Inoka Ranaweera, Inoshi Fernando, Hansima Karunaratne, Rashmika Sewwandi, Malki Madara, Sugandika Kumari and Achini Kulasuriya.
India Squad:
Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Kashvee Gautam, Sneh Rana, Arundhati Reddy, Tejal Hasabnis, Sree Charani and Shuchi Upadhyay.
Match officials:
Michell Pereira – ICC Match Referee, Anna Harris – ICC Umpire on field, Nimali Perera – ICC Umpire on field, Lyndon Hannibal – ICC Umpire – Third Umpire, Dedunu De Silva – ICC Umpire – Fourth Umpire.
