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Athapaththu's fifty helps Sri Lanka stun Proteas in Women's T20 World Cup opener

cricket10 February 2023 20:34| © MWP
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The Momentum Proteas suffered a horrid batting collapse as Sri Lanka upset the hosts with a three-run victory in their ICC Women's T20 World Cup encounter at Newlands on Friday.

Chasing a modest 130 to win under lights, South Africa lost wickets at regular intervals and was ultimately undone by the Sri Lankan bowling attack.

After a somewhat decent start, opener Tazmin Brits (12) fell early as she was caught off the bowling of Oshadi Ranasinghe.

Spinner Inoka Ranaweera was introduced and got allrounder Marizanne Kapp to hit a cheap shot straight to the fielder for 11.

Opener Laura Wolvaardt could only manage 18 off 23 balls as she attempted to sweep but got a top edge and was comfortably caught off Ranaweera.

In-form Chloe Tryon made a run-a-ball 10 before she found the fielder at long-on off the bowling of Sugandika Kumari.

Kumari got her second as she bowled out Anneke Bosch for a duck two balls after Tryon's departure.

After hitting a six, Nadine de Klerk swung hard, was caught at long-on and walked back with only seven runs to her name.

Things seemed hopeless for the hosts when Sune Luus attempted to drive but was stumped by Ranaweera for SA's top score of 28.

Sinalo Jafta (15) and Shabnim Ismail (7) were run out as the Proteas started their Women's T20 World Cup campaign with a disappointing loss.

Earlier, skipper Chamari Athapaththu scored a superb half-century as Sri Lanka posted to 129-4.

Allrounder Nadine de Klerk (1-38) came into the attack and struck in her first over as Harshitha Samarawickrama chipped the ball straight to short midwicket and walked back to the changeroom for eight.

An 86-run third-wicket stand between Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne formed as they dealt in boundaries and kept the Newlands crowd subdued.

After a lacklustre fielding performance, luck finally struck for the Proteas thanks to a brilliant direct throw from Tazmin Brits.

Brits threw a direct hit, and Gunaratne fell short of her crease to depart for 35 off 34 balls (hitting four fours).

Kapp got Athapaththu to get caught by a diving De Klerk as the Sri Lankan skipper top-scored with 68 off 50 balls (hitting 12 fours).

The final wicket of the match came off the bowling of pacer Shabnim Ismail (1/22) as Nilakshi Silva tried to swing her bat but was subsequently bowled out for four.

Kapp finished as the most economical bowler for the Proteas, taking one for 15 in her four overs.

SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus (captain), Chloe Tryon, Anneke Bosch, Nadine de Klerk, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Kaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba

SRI LANKA: Harshitha Samarawickrama, Chamari Athapaththu (captain), Vishmi Gunaratne, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Nilakshi Silva, Kaveesha Dilhari, Oshadhi Ranasinghe, Ama Kanchana, Sugandika Kumari, Inoka Ranaweera, Anchini Kulasooriya

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