Half-centuries from Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari steered Sri Lanka to a five-wicket victory over the Proteas Women in the second ODI of the Tri-Series at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
All-rounder Annerie Dercksen top-scored for South Africa with an unbeaten maiden half-century, dispatching four fours and a six for a 60-ball 61, to help the Proteas to 235-9 before Samarawickrama hit 77 off 93 balls (eight fours) and Dilhari, 61 off 75 balls (six fours, one six) successfully anchored the hosts’ chase.
South Africa endured a stuttering start to their innings after being put in to bat by Sri Lanka.
The Proteas Women lost both openers, Laura Wolvaardt (10) and Tazmin Brits (14), early on, courtesy of sharp spells from Malki Madara (4-50) and Sugandika Kumari (1-49) to leave the visitors reeling on 27-2.
Lara Goodall (46) and Karabo Meso (nine) tried to steady the innings, taking the score to 40-2 at the end of the powerplay.
However, Inoka Ranaweera (1-33) removed Meso, and despite a promising 54-run stand between Goodall and Suné Luus (31), debutant Dewmi Vihanga (3-41) disrupted the recovery with quick strikes. She dismissed both set batters in back-to-back overs, reducing South Africa to 121-5 after 21 overs.
The Proteas Women turned to their power-hitters to regain control, with Chloé Tryon (35) and Dercksen putting on a vital 62-run stand. The partnership ended when Vihanga struck again, removing Tryon after a stunning one-handed catch by Nilakshika Silva in the deep.
Despite losing Tryon, Dercksen continued to attack the Sri Lankan bowlers, forging useful late partnerships with Nadine de Klerk (17) and Masabata Klaas (four) to notch up her first ODI fifty and career-best score in international cricket across all formats.
Madara returned at the death to cap a fine bowling display, claiming three late wickets, including De Klerk, Klaas, and Nonkululeko Mlaba (nought), to restrict South Africa to 235-9 in their 50 overs.
Sri Lanka’s chase of 236 began shakily with captain Chamari Athapaththu (six) falling early to Masabata Klaas. Hasini Perera (42) and Vishmi Gunaratne (29) then steadied the innings with a steady 69-run stand to regain control.
With Sri Lanka in the ascendancy, South Africa turned to their spinners to shift momentum. Mlaba (2-44) and Luus (1-34) struck in quick succession to remove both set batters. Their efforts left Sri Lanka at 90-3 after 18 overs, still requiring another 146 runs to seal victory.
Undeterred by the pressure, Dilhari and Samarawickrama combined for a match-defining partnership, constructing a 128-run stand to take the game beyond South Africa’s reach.
Though both were eventually dismissed, Sri Lanka went on to comfortably chase down the target, notching their first victory of the ODI Tri-Series.
The Proteas Women will next play on Wednesday, when they take on India at the same venue.
Photo: Isuru Sameera/Gallo Images
