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From the sidelines | By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya

The existence of a women’s cricket team seems to have been one of Sri Lanka’s best kept secrets till a few days ago. That was when they exploded into the media spotlight by trouncing two formidable squads in the ICC Women’s World Cup tournament, currently being played in India. First they shocked the cricket world by beating three-times-champions England, in their first match in the group stage. Within days of that stunning performance they thumped India, and in doing so eliminated the hosts from the ‘Super Sixes’ – the second stage of the tournament to which the better teams progress.

Well yes it’s true that they got hammered by West Indies in between those two games. And their super confident mood after beating India didn’t seem to help them on Fridaywhen they folded up under New Zealand’s attack. But the fact that a team ‘from nowhere’ – the lowest ranked in the tournament in fact – executed those wins, certainly made the cricket world look up and take notice of Sri Lanka’s women. The absence of much publicity in local media, both before and during the Women’s World Cup, was itself is an indication of low priority accorded to this particular version of the game – notwithstanding the fact that this is a cricket crazy country.

This is the first time Sri Lanka has entered the Super Sixes. In 2009 they finished last in the tournament. They have only won four matches in the World Cup so far, none of which were against ‘big’ teams. Their first ever win over England this yearwas described by BBC Sports as “one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.” It was a thrilling encounter with the scoresin a tieat the end, when Dilani Manodara hit a six off the last ball of the last over to clinch the game for Sri Lanka.

England’s captain Charlotte Edwards’s side needed”to improve in every department if they are to advance, as they were given a lesson in accurate bowling and boundary hitting by the lowest-seeded team in the tournament,” said BBC Sports’ Stephan Shemilt.

“I can’t think of a bigger upset in 40 years of Women’s World Cup cricket,” wrote sports journalist Alison Mitchell.
Beating India too was a first for Sri Lanka. And losing that one was a bitter experience for India, as it forced their exit leaving them to battle it out with Pakistan for 7th place. The distress was written all over their faces as they laboured to dispatch a sturdy Sri Lankan batting line up that refused to cave in. The decision to move Deepika Rasangika up to third place paid off for Sri Lanka as she made a century stand in partnership with Yasoda Mendis. In the match against England Rasangika had been eighth in the batting order. The irrepressible Eshani Kaushalyaput on a fireworks display in the last ten overs to score 56 runs that included six fours and three sixes. She scored an identical number of runs against England earlier (five fours, three sixes).

This was a team that generated so little interest during the run up to the tournament that at the pre tournament press conference, it was reported,very few questions were directed at skipper Sashikala Siriwardena apart from ‘how she felt to have been born on Valentine’s Day.’

It’s interesting though that the online comments by males on the women’s success were decidedly NOT of a sexist nature. The responses seemed to be overwhelmingly positive, and to express sheer delight. They mostly referred to the outstanding teamwork and great attitude of the squad. There were somethat were inspired to draw parallels with Arjuna Ranatunga’s team that lifted the 1996 World Cup.Ranatunga himself was quoted in local media saying that they were an example to the men’s team.

One of the online fans quoted a sports writer’s comment on the England match saying that”it was not a great women’s game of cricket, it was a great game of cricket.” Another observed that some of these players would rank among the country’s top 11 cricketers.

“Well this reminds me of our 96 team. It’s not because we knocked India out while playing in India , but it has more to do with the spirit they play in” wrote another.

What emerges from reading between the lines is a realisation that the women’s team and its boundless spirit have brought a breath of fresh air to Sri Lanka’sgame. It was clear to any spectator that these cricketers were playing for joy and the thrill of winning, unconcerned by the lure of big money.The fees they earn from Sri Lanka Cricket are modest. Credit goes to the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force for employing them, not for military duty but to play cricket.

But these carefree circumstances may change once the team begins to attract media attention, and along with that, big sponsorships and competition over television broadcasting rights etc.It may be predicted that increasing fame will inevitably lead to meddling by politicians and corrupt managers. The corruption within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is legendary, the government’s own Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has drawn attention to it. So how long the ‘honeymoon period’ of Sri Lanka women’s cricket will last is anyone’s guess.

Today the team faces a daunting match against five-times-champions Australia. If the previous win-lose, win-lose pattern is anything to go by, they should be all fired up to meet the challenge after having lost the last match against New Zealand. On Wednesday their fixture is with South Africa. But as the New York Times commented, even if they lose all these matches ” Sri Lanka will already have left an indelible mark on this World Cup.”

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