Sri Lanka completed their fourth highest successful run chase in women’s ODIs and subjected South Africa to a second successive defeat in the tri-series in Colombo. A record fourth wicket stand of 128 between Kavisha Dilhari and Harshitha Samarawickrema,  both of whom scored half-centuries, ensured Sri Lanka controlled proceedings against a South African side that struggled with the slowness of the pitch and problems with personnel.

Seventeen-year-old wicket-keeper Karabo Meso had to leave the field after 14 overs of the Sri Lankan innings with a heat-related illness and was replaced by Sinalo Jafta while Sune Luus  who bowled eight overs and took 1 for 34, jammed her knee into the turf and suffered bruising, forcing her off the field. Ultimately neither of those things hampered South Africa as much as their inability to take wickets on a surface that Sri Lanka’s attack mastered. Debutant offspinner Dewmi Vihanga became the second Sri Lankan to take three wickets on ODI debut while Malki Madara,  playing in just her second game, picked up 4 for 50.

South Africa’s total of 235, built largely on Annerine Dercksen’s first ODI half-century, looked competitive at the halfway stage but when Sri Lanka lost Chamari Athapaththu in the third over, it seemed it could be match-winning. Vishmi Gunaratne and Hasini Perera rebuilt steadily for a second-wicket stand of 69 before Dilhari and Samarawickrama kept the required run-rate in control to seal victory with 21 balls to spare.

Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Women  237 for 5 in 50 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 77, Kavisha Dilhari 61, Hasini Perera 42, Vishmi Guneratne 29; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2-44) beat South Africa Women  (Annerie Dercksen 61*, Lara Goodall 46, Sunee Luus 31, Chloe Tryon 35;  Malki Madara 4-50, Dewmi Vihanga 3-41) by five wickets

[Cricinfo]