Harshitha guides Sri Lankan to victory over Thailand

Opener Harshitha Samarawickrama made a superb knock of 81 in 69 balls with 10 fours as Sri Lanka women recorded a 49 run win over Thailand women in their Asia Cup T – 20 cricket fixture played at Sylhet International cricket stadium in Bangladesh yesterday.

This was Sri Lanka’s back to back second win and they will meet Malaysia in three days time at the same venue.

Sri Lanka chose to bat first and scored a challenging total of 156 for 5 wickets in 20 overs while Thailand team managed to get 107 for 5 wickets with Sri Lankan spinners doing the damage to seal the victory.

The 24 year old left hand batter Harshitha Samarawickrama played a remarkable innings and her knock paved the way to build up a good total said Sri Lanka head coach Hashan Tillekaratne in an exclusive interview with the Daily News after the game.

Our players are improving match by match and their appoarch was very good in the Thailand game. In fact young Harshitha maintained her good form during all three matches while Nilakshi de Silva played a good supporting role to make a good partnership.The openers Harshitha Samarawickrama and skipper Chamari Atapatthu added 63 runs before Chamari was out for just 12 runs in 18 balls with a boundary.

Harshitha a product of Gothami Vidyalaya Colombo played the anchor role to make her career best score of 81 while Nilakshi de Silva hit an unbeaten 39 in 21 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixers played a brisk knock to pass the 150 run mark which gave the psychological advantage for the team.

Actually our women’s team has good potential and now the players have shown they can build up the innings with support from Skipper Chamari Atapatthu. Chamari most of the time was among the runs and Sri Lanka team depended on her earlier . Players like Harshitha, Nilakshi,Hasini and Oshadi Ranasinghe are also in good touch with the bat and this is good sign at this tournament said Coach Tillekaratne.

Chief scores

Sri Lanka women’s 156 for 5 wickets in 20 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 81, Chamari Atapattu 12, Nilakshi de Silva 39*,T.Putthawong 2/26)

Thailand women’s 107 for 5 wickets in 20 overs (N.Koncharongkai 25,N.Chaiwai19,C.Sutthiroung 37*,Achini Kulasuriya 2/19,Kavisha Dilhari 1/20, Sugandika Kumari 1/14,Inoka Ranaweera 1/19)