New Zealand Women 147 for 7 (Bates 34, Ranaweera 3-30, Ranasinghe 2-31) beat 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 a T20I and that record was theirs to change when the spinners were in operation in the middle overs – New Zealand could manage only 67 runs for the loss of five wickets between overs 7 and 16. However, a strong finish from New Zealand followed by a capitulation from their own batters denied Sri Lanka.
Bates, Devine get going
Despite the track assisting the slow pace of the spin twins, New Zealand had managed to get to 41 for none when the fielding restrictions ended.
Ranaweera, Ranasinghe trigger collapse
Ranasinghe struck twice in her third over to trigger a collapse. She first had Maddy Green brilliantly caught behind by Anushka Sanjeewani before the wicketkeeper pulled off another terrific diving catch after running towards point to end Bates’ stay. From 51 for none, New Zealand had slid to 79 for 4, which became 89 for 5 when Jensen was stumped.
Tahuhu, the batter
While Brooke Halliday and Isabella Gaze – the latter batting for the first time in international cricket – resurrected the innings, it was not until Tahuhu walked out that New Zealand’s finish got the desired impetus.
She hit a four and a six off successive deliveries from Ranaweera to get going before helping score 13 off the final over of the innings to power New Zealand close to 150. Tahuhu’s stay of eight deliveries had yielded 20 runs.
Sri Lanka fold cheaply
Hasini Perera was clueless against Jensen’s swing and Tahuhu’s pace, piling on the dots. Vishmi Gunaratne’s enterprising cross-batted shot then found mid-on before Jensen ended Perera’s misery. Jensen also bowled Sanjeewani to finish with 3 for 5 from her four overs.
Though they managed to cross the hundred-run mark, the result was almost inevitable after the initial exchanges in the chase.