BIPIN DANI
Former Sri Lankan women’s captain Shashikala Siriwardene has “no regrets” on losing her country’s record of best bowling figures in an innings.
On Saturday, the 27-year-old Malsha Shehani achieved the bowling analysis of 1.5-0-2-4 against Malaysia in the ongoing Asia Cup and surpassed Siriwardene analysis of 3.4-0-9-4, which she did against Pakistan at Colombo’s NCC ground in March 2018.
Speaking exclusively over her mobile from Colombo, she said, “I am really happy for her (Malsha Shehani) record. I am proud of her (new Sri Lankan record) and others who continue to play cricket and make our country proud”.
Malshi came close to a hat-trick when she had two consecutive wickets off the first two balls in the last over but had to miss the wicket in the next two balls before the third wicket in the last over of the match.
“Yes, it was unfortunate but I am happy with her performance when she delivered in the match when the team needed it most. I wish her and our team all the best for the Asia Cup”, the former spinner Siriwardene who now also works for the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) concluded.
Incidentally, Shashikala’s record was also surpassed by Inoka Ranaweera on Monday, when she also grabbed 4 wickets in just two overs (the maximum she could bowl in the rain curtailed match) giving away seven runs. The match against Bangladesh was won by Sri Lanka by 3 runs in seven overs.
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