Skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt produced a captain’s knock of run-a-ball 117 while leg spinner Sophie Ecclestone impressed with the ball, taking 4 for 17 as England gained an easy 89 run win over Sri Lanka in their Women’s World Cup cricket fixture played at R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.
It was a superb all-round performance by the English women’s team, with skipper Brunt leading from the front to earn the Player of the Match award.
The 33-year-old Brunt who was dropped on three by Udeshika Prabodani at mid wicket off Inoka Ranaweera in the 14th over took full responsibility to stay at the wicket until the last over on her way to a run-a-ball 117 with 9 fours and 2 sixes which was also her 10th career ODI century and also her fifth World Cup century with a record (highest number of World Cup tons).
Having posted 253 for nine with the bat, England controlled the game with a superb bowling performance led by 26-year-old left arm orthodox bowler Sophie Ecclestone who finished with economic spell of 4 for 17 in her 10 overs with three madien overs. Skipper Burnt once again impressed with her right arm medium pace bowling taking 2 for 25 well supported by off spinner Charlie Dean with 2 for 47 and Sri Lanka lasses were restricted to 164 all out in 45.4 overs. Opener Hasini Perera top scored with 35 with 3 fours while Harshitha Samarawickrama hit 37 ball 33 added 58 runs second wicket which was the only successful partnership for Sri Lanka. Nilakshika Silva hit 38 ball 23. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu who was injured after scoring 7 in the 7th over once again came to the middle after departure of Harshitha Samarawickrama. But she was bowled by Ecclestone scoring 15 in 39 balls in the 29th over and English bowlers controlled the game to seal their third consecutive victory to come on top.
Earlier England’s innings began in eventful fashion as Tammy Beaumont successfully reviewed the decision to claim her out LBW in the second over, before Amy Jones was run out after being called for a single in the fourth over.
The opener Beaumont continued in aggressive fashion but had to go for a 29-ball 32 after mistiming Sugandika Kumari to leave England 49 for one and after power play England were 50 for 2 wickets.
A 60-run partnership followed between Heather Knight and captain Sciver-Brunt, but Sri Lanka found the breakthrough in the 22nd over when Knight was given out on review gloving Inoka Ranaweera to slip for 29.
That was followed by a superb double-wicket maiden from Ranaweera, who bowled Emma Lamb round her legs for 13 before having Alice Capsey stumped for a duck courtesy of excellent glove work by Anushka Sanjeewani who did superb duty behind the stump. Once again experienced leg spinner Inoka Ranaweera was Sri Lankas most successful bowler taking 3 for 33 while Udeshika Prabodani and Sugandika Kumari took 2 wickets each. Sri Lanka made only one change as off spinner Dewmi Vihanga came to the side in place of fast bowler Achini Kulasooriya.
England skipper Nat Sciver Brunt said; “The pitch was a bit inconsistent and we had to be precise with our shots. I am happy the way innings built up until end. Sri Lanka spinners bowled well and we adjusted and scoring a hundred was very special. We started off really well. But there was bit of inconsistency with the spinners how it reacted off the wicket. I couldn’t accelerate properly until the end when it came on more. Our leg spinner Sophia Ecclestone was brilliant and picked up 4 wickets. She has improved in the last few months and we expect more from her,”said the English skipper.
Sri Lanka opener Hasini Perera said they made good start until 20th over and but we couldn’t execute our plans as expected. “I tried to play a big shot against leg spinner Ecclestone but it did not work out and we lost couple of wickets in the middle stage and it put us under pressure. However we want to come back in the New Zealand game to get success,” added Hasini Perera who was the top scorer for Sri Lanka.