New Zealand women’s tour of Sri Lanka began on Tuesday, June 27, as the two teams took on each other in the first ODI of the three-match series. The rain played spoilsport at the start of the game which reduced the match to 28 overs per side. New Zealand captain Sophie Devine won the toss and elected to bat first.
New Zealand openers Suzie Bates and Bernadine Bezuidenhout could not get their team off to a great start as Sugandika Kumari struck the first blow for her side, dismissing Bezuidenhout (13) with just 17 runs on the board. Amelia Kerr walked in at number three and put on a 60-run stand for the second wicket off 66 balls.
The partnership was broken by Kavisha Dilhari, who dismissed Bates (28 off 35) to give second blow to New Zealand. The visitors further lost their grip on the game as they lost two wickets in quick succession. A well-set Kerr (40 off 51) lost her wicket against Inoka Ranaweera, while captain Devine got run out for 19 (14) to leave her side reeling at 105/4 after 19.4 overs.
However, Maddy Green (38 off 30) and Georgia Plimmer (23* off 25) took their team to a good total of 170/5 at the end of their 28 overs with their 63-run stand. For Sri Lanka, Sugandika Kumari (1/28), Kavisha Dilhari (1/26), and Inoka Ranaweera (1/41) were amongst the wickets.
Chamari Athapaththu led the chase with her splendid hundred
In reply, Sri Lankan openers captain Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne made a complete mockery of New Zealand’s total. The duo put on a massive 159-run stand in 151 balls to get their team off to a thumping start. New Zealand got their first strike quite late in the innings, with Devine dismissing Gunaratne (50 off 74).
However, Athapaththu made sure there were no hiccups in the chase and guided her team to victory with her splendid hundred. The Sri Lankan skipper remained unbeaten on 108 off 83 balls, smashing ten fours and five sixes in her innings. As a result, Sri Lanka chased down the target in 27 overs and won the match by nine wickets.
Twitter was abuzz with reactions on Sri Lanka’s emphatic win. Here are some of the Tweets:
I must say, I did not anticipate this result. However, I love to see these type of win by Asian Teams. This marks the first time Srilanka have ever defeated the Newzealand with the help of amazing opening partnership & magnificent unbeaten century by Chamari Athapaththu. #SLvNZ pic.twitter.com/9Ifofz3VC2
— Asheesh (@Asheesh00007) June 27, 2023
Great win @OfficialSLC girls.
Decent bowling effort and what an innings from Chamari.#SLvNZ
She is the equivalent of Sana.
What a X factor player.
— Nisansala (@Nisansla2) June 27, 2023
Highest partnership for Sri Lanka in women’s ODIs:
159 – Chamari Athapaththu & Vishmi Gunaratne v NZ, TODAY
152 – Chamari Athapaththu & Harshitha Samarawickrama v PAK, 2022
143 – Indika Kankanange & Vasanthi Ratnayeke v PAK, 2002#SLvNZ
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) June 27, 2023
Sri Lanka women in all formats against New Zealand from 1997-2023:
L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L W#SLvNZ #ICCWC #IWChttps://t.co/4GbJrs3lt2
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) June 27, 2023
Brilliant innings by @58Chamari and Vishmi Gunaratne. Just a comprehensive win by @OfficialSLC #SLvNZ
— Colpetty (@Colpetty) June 27, 2023
Cometh the hour, cometh the Chamari 😍
That’s century no. 7⃣ in ODIs for the Sri Lankan Skipper in just 83 balls!🙌🏻#CricketTwitter #SLvNZ 📸: Getty pic.twitter.com/EFV3wsUmMy
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 27, 2023
A four from Chamari Athapaththu seals a historic win for Sri Lanka 175/1 (27.0).
Athapaththu 111* (83)
Gunaratne 50 (74)
Devine 1-20
Sri Lanka win by 9 wickets, their first victory in any format against New Zealand.#SLvNZ #ICCWC #IWChttps://t.co/XJ1dEDdy2l pic.twitter.com/paDFZhlPMZ
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) June 27, 2023
🚨 Historic Win 🚨
Sri Lanka beat New Zealand women’s cricket team for the first time.#CricketTwitter #SLvNZ
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 27, 2023
What a opening partnership by Chamari and Vishmi taking the team to victory!!! Absolutely brilliant first ever win against the white ferns! #SLvNZ https://t.co/manuKpnIA6
— James Suneth Peiris (@Peera_JS) June 27, 2023
Srilanka Womens team beat Whiteferns 1st time in ODI cricket #SLvNZ
— Ishara (@Ishara23032) June 27, 2023
Got to say, I did not see that coming! No complaints though 😄 What an effort from Sri Lanka! A FIRST EVER win against the White Ferns! #SLvNZ
— Estelle Vasudevan (@Estelle_Vasude1) June 27, 2023
By 9 wickets. But what a performance. Bravo Chamari Atthapaththu! 👏 #SLvNZ https://t.co/hw0YnfMy6B
— PouLaMi 🧑💻 (@Crictopher17) June 27, 2023
Damn. SL women chased down NZ Women’s 170 with one wicket down? #SLvNZ
— Cham J (@Uppercut07) June 27, 2023
Sri Lanka🇱🇰 achieve their first ever win against New Zealand🇳🇿 in women’s cricket. Both teams have faced each other 21 times.#SLvNZ
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) June 27, 2023
CHAMARIIIIIIIII!!!!!!#SLvNZ
— Kalyani Mangale (@MangaleKalyani) June 27, 2023
Another batting masterclass by Chamari Athapaththu! What a legend. #SLvNZ
— Kithmina Hewage (@khewage1) June 27, 2023
Wicket! Vishmi Gunaratne falls for 50 and it’s Devine who takes her 200th international wicket. The attempted ramp shot hangs high and Brooke Halliday takes a good catch at fine leg. Sri Lanka require 13 to win from 17 balls. Watch play LIVE https://t.co/cfKKlB9NOH #SLvNZ #SLvNZ pic.twitter.com/opYDO4m6Nu
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) June 27, 2023
Chamari Athapaththu is a statpadder tbh.
Doesn’t matter if the team wins or lose, she only cares about her own Runs.#SLvNZ #CricketTwitter
— Nemo (@LuciferStan07) June 27, 2023
Chamari Athapaththu brings up her seventh ODI century, and her first against New Zealand.
At 79 balls faced, she beats her own record for fastest ODI hundred by a Sri Lankan woman.#SLvNZ #ICCWC #IWChttps://t.co/ROwhfDVOjo
livestreamhttps://t.co/vJFjkQQPsg pic.twitter.com/pFxCR2QUVc
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) June 27, 2023
Chamari Athapaththu 💙🇱🇰 #SLvNZ
— Chathura Kumarasinghe (@chathudk) June 27, 2023
17 years old 🤯
Looks a good organised cricketer and was happy to take her time early and feed the strike to Chamari. Lots to like there! And did I mention she is 17?! #SLvNZ #Vishmi #FirstOfMany #Class https://t.co/avvkSoEzYn
— Frances Mackay (@FrankieMac71) June 27, 2023