Sri Lanka targets 2013 repeat against host England
Chamari Athapaththu is in focus
Back in 2013, Sri Lanka sent shockwaves around the cricketing world as it edged out defending ICC Women’s World Cup champion England by one wicket in Mumbai to get its campaign off to a flyer.
Four years on and the nations meet once again in the league stage of the tournament – and England skipper Heather Knight insists there is no way her side will be underestimating its opponent.
Chamari Athapaththu was the difference that day for Sri Lanka, as she hit a match-winning 62 off 72 balls to get her side past its target of 238 – wicketkeeper Dilani Manodara smacking a six to win it off the very last ball of the innings.
Number three Athapaththu is in flying form again in this tournament, notching 53 in Sri Lanka’s opener and then an historic 178 not out against Australia on Thursday – and she will certainly be the player to dismiss early if England is to stand the best chance of winning.
Knight and her side will welcome Sri Lanka to the County Ground in Taunton with another full-house expected on Sunday to cheer on the tournament’s host nation, and after a routine win over Pakistan on Tuesday banished the memory of an opening loss to India.
The England captain says spirits are high.
“I actually saw the highlights briefly of the Sir Lanka game from last World Cup today as they were on at one point,” said Knight, who made a thrilling ton against Pakistan, as did Natalie Sciver.
“It’s four years later and a completely different team and World Cup.
“We will take confidence from the Pakistan game, but we will respect
Sri Lanka like we will any opposition and hopefully put in the type of performance we want to.
“It was exciting to watch Natalie at the other end. It’s the type of cricket we want to play, we want to be exciting.
“Confidence is high, particularly among the batters, but they are fresh matches and different opposition.”
Sri Lanka sits seventh in the WWC standings having lost both of its opening matches, but skipper Inoka Ranaweera sees cause for optimism after pushing defending champion Australia all the way in Bristol. She said: “I am looking forward to playing England. We want to get maybe 250 or more runs.
“We are now used to the conditions here. They are different from
Sri Lanka but we have played a few games now so we look forward to playing against the hosts.”
In the United Kingdom, the match will be live on Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports Mix, its website and App, while it can be watched live in Sri Lanka on Channel Eye and chenneleye.lk
Squads:
- England: Heather Knight (captain), Tamsin Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Beth Langston, Laura Marsh, Natalie Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield and Danielle Wyatt.
- Sri Lanka: Inoka Ranaweera (captain), Chamari Athapaththu, Chandima Gunaratne, Nipuni Hansika, Ama Kanchana, Eshani Lokusooriya, Harshitha Madhavi, Dilani Manodara, Hasini Perera, Chamari Polgampala, Udeshika Prabodani, Oshadhi Ranasinghe, Shashikala Siriwardena, Prasadani Weerakodi and Sripali Weerakkody
- Umpires: Kathy Cross and Adrian Holdstock
- Match referee: Steve Bernard