Sri Lanka’s historic victory (Photo-GETTY IMAGES)
There has been a big upset with New Zealand, the defending champion of the Women’s T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka defeated New Zealand by 5 wickets in the match played in Southampton. Batting first, the New Zealand team scored 150 runs in 20 overs, in reply the Sri Lankan team achieved this target by losing 5 wickets in the first 2 balls. The script of Sri Lanka’s victory was written by 36-year-old senior player Nilakshika de Silva, who scored unbeaten 54 runs in 37 balls while batting at number six. Wicketkeeper Kaushani Nutthayangana formed an unstoppable partnership with him and scored unbeaten 24 runs in 14 balls. Captain Chamri Atapattu also scored a quick-fire 27 runs in 19 balls. This victory of Sri Lanka is historic because for the first time in the T20 World Cup, this team has defeated New Zealand.
Bad condition of New Zealand team
With the defeat against Sri Lanka, New Zealand’s journey in the T20 World Cup has become very difficult. This team has fallen to fifth position in Group B. Before Sri Lanka, West Indies had defeated New Zealand by 7 wickets. On the other hand, Sri Lankan team has won the first match in this tournament. This team had lost the last match to England by 87 runs.
Nilakshika de Silva turned the match like this
Sri Lanka had a good start in reply to New Zealand’s target of 151 runs. Atapattu and Vishmi Gunaratne added 45 runs for the first wicket. However, New Zealand made a comeback as soon as the wicket of fast-batting captain Atapattu fell. By the 9th over, Sri Lanka lost 4 wickets for 55 runs and it seemed that now this team will not be able to achieve the target. But Nilakshika Silva, who came at number six, had different intentions. As soon as he entered the crease, he batted furiously. This player along with Kavisha Dilhari made a half-century partnership in just 39 balls in which Nilakshika contributed 32 runs. Within no time this player reached her half-century in just 33 balls.
When Kavisha’s wicket fell in the 15th over, it seemed that Nilakshika would disintegrate under pressure but Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Kaushini also batted fast and scored 24 runs in 14 balls with the help of 3 fours. Both of them gave a historic victory to Sri Lanka by adding 48 runs in just 28 balls.
