The third and final ODI between Ireland Women and Sri Lanka Women, held at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Stormont, saw a commanding performance from the visitors, who secured an 8-wicket victory. After winning the toss and opting to bowl, Sri Lanka Women put up a disciplined bowling display to bowl out Ireland for a modest 122 runs in 46.3 overs.

Chamari Athapaththu, Achini Kulasuriya shine with the ball

Ireland’s batting struggled from the outset, with early wickets falling in quick succession. Sarah Forbes and Amy Hunter both departed without troubling the scorers, while Christina Coulter and Orla Prendergast could only manage single-digit scores. Leah Paul (19 off 53) and Arlene Kelly (35 off 75) attempted to stabilize the innings, but Sri Lanka’s bowlers were relentless.

Skipper Chamari Athapaththu, leading from the front, claimed 3 wickets for 15 runs in her 8.3 overs, while Achini Kulasuriya‘s pace earned her 3 wickets as well. Inoshi Fernando was economical, conceding only 7 runs in her 10 overs while picking up a crucial wicket.

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Athapaththu takes Sri Lanka home

Chasing 123 for victory, Sri Lanka Women made light work of the target. Although Vishmi Rajapaksha Gunaratne fell early for 9, Athapaththu played a captain’s knock, scoring a quickfire 48 off 49 balls, laced with 10 boundaries. Harshitha Samarawickrama matched her captain’s effort, also scoring 48 off 56 deliveries. The duo’s partnership anchored the chase, ensuring a comfortable finish. Kavisha Dilhari chipped in with 10* as Sri Lanka reached 123/2 in just 23.1 overs.

Despite losing the series 2-1, Sri Lanka Women can take pride in their dominant performance in the final ODI. Athapaththu’s all-round contribution earned her the Player of the Match award, highlighting her importance to the team. For Ireland, this series saw moments of promise, especially with their victories in the first two games, but they will look to build on their batting consistency in future contests.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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