West Indies women cricketers to tour Sri Lanka from May 13
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West Indies Women’s cricket team is scheduled to tour Sri Lanka this month to play 4 One Day Internationals and three T20 matches. Sri Lanka lost the ODI Series but won the T20 series against Pakistan last year. At the Women’s World Cup in 2013 Sri Lanka were ranked 5th but dropped to the 7th position at the conclusion of the tournament.
The national women’s selectors had already picked a squad of 14 players with seven stand-bys. Chamari Atapattu will lead Sri Lanka women and Eshani Lokusuriya will be her deputy. Apart from the captain and vice captain much is expected from experienced players in the caliber of Sashikala Siriwardena, Dilani Manodara, Inoka Ranaweera and Sripali Weerakkody with their fighting qualities as allrounders.
With a strong batting line-up and a well balanced bowling attack with three left-arm orthodox spinners and an off spinner this all-round outfit can cause problems to any strong women’s team. In this series the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ODIs will be closely monitored as they are ICC fixtures and a series win here will gave a chance to Sri Lanka to improve their position in the world rankings.
West Indies start the tour on May 13 when they meet the hosts in the first ODI to be played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. The second match of the series is also to be played at the RPICS on May 15 and the third and fourth ODIs too will be played at the same venue on May 18 with May 20, 16, 19 and 21 are Rain Reserve days. This will be followed by the three T20 matches at the same venue on May 23, 25 and 26.
All matches will commence at 10 a.m. except the last T20 match which is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Two practice wicket for each team will be allocated for both the Windies and Sri Lanka teams with nine practice sessions for each side from May 11 to 24 excluding match days and reserve days.
Sri Lanka squad: Chamari Attapattu (Captain), Eshani Lokusuriya (V. Captain), Prasadini Weerakkody, Nipuni Hansika, Sanduni Abeywickrema, Dilani Manodara, Sashikala Siriwardene, Sripali Weerakkody, Ama Kanchana, Inoka Ranaweera, Suganthika Kumari, Lasanthi Madushani, Chaturani Gunawardene and Maduri Samuddika.
Standby: Yasoda Mendis, Oshadi Ranasinghe, Achni Kulasooriya, Hasini Perera, Chamari Polgampola and Nilakshi Perera.
