Sri Lanka beat WI 5th time 5-0

KINGSTOWN: Sri Lanka crushed the West Indies by eight wickets at the Arnos Vale Ground yesterday and streaked into a 5-0 lead in their six-match limited overs women’s series.

Off-spinners Sandamali Dolewatte, Suthershini Sivanandham and Rose Fernando tormented the West Indies and reduced them to 77 all out in 36.2 overs, before cruising to victory at 80 for two from 22 overs.  The final game of the series will be played today, also at Arnos Vale. Electing to bat, the West Indies got a fair start from rookie Glenicia James (27) and her opening partner Nadine George (17), the only to players getting to double figures. The pair had a first-wicket stand of 35, but wickets tumbled rapidly after that as the home team lost 10 wickets for a mere 42 runs.

Bowling for the Sri Lankans, Dolewatte captured five for 16 off eight overs, Sivanandham snared three for eight off 7.2 overs, and Fernando two for 13 off six. Doris Francis (1-13) and captain Verena Felicien (1-21) then shared two wickets, as Sri Lanka cruised to their biggest win of the series. Hiruka Fernando, with an unbeaten 39, Randika Galhenage (19) and Hiroshi Abeysinghe (12 not out) led the visitors to their easy win with 28 overs to spare.

This is the first ever women’s tour of the West Indies by a national team and it is providing practice for the Caribbean side preparing for the International Women’s Cricket Council (IWCC) tournament in Holland this summer. The IWCC tournament will have the West Indies playing alongside Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, Pakistan, and Scotland for two spots to the 2005 Women’s World Cup.