West Indies vs Sri Lanka, 2nd WODI: Vishmi Gunaratne, spinners shine as Sri Lanka take unassailable 2-0 lead

Match Overview

Sri Lanka and West Indies faced off in the second women’s ODI of the three-match series at the National Cricket Stadium, St. George's, Grenada, on February 22. West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews won the toss and elected to field first.

Sri Lanka clinched the low-scoring encounter by 14 runs to gain an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. The Chamari Athapaththu-led team put up 208 runs on the board on the back of Vishmi Gunaratne’s half-century (58 off 66) and thirties from Harshitha Samarawickrama (35 off 64) and skipper Athapaththu (32 off 41) before some late acceleration from Nilakshika Silva (29 off 22).

At 166 for 4 in the 36th over, Sri Lanka seemed on the path to setting a much bigger total, but a couple of run-outs and other quick wickets kept them down to a manageable target. West Indies spinners ruled the roost, as off-spinner Karishma Ramharack bagged three wickets for just 26 runs in 9.1 overs, including a maiden, while Matthews and leg-spinner Afy Fletcher claimed two each.

In response, West Indies kept losing wickets at regular intervals, with their top five sent back to the hut with not even 100 runs on the board. Just like the West Indies’, Sri Lanka spinners seized control, claiming all 10 wickets of the opposition. Left-arm spinners Sugandika Kumari and Inoka Ranaweera took three apiece while off-spinner Dewmi Vihanga and skipper Athapaththu took two and one, respectively.

Qiana Joseph (16 off 27), Shermaine Campbell (30 off 35) and Stafanie Taylor (27 off 45) got themselves in but failed to capitalise, even as No. 7 Jannillea Glasgow showed resistance through her 69-ball 50.

The highlight of the match came in the 30th over when Deandra Dottin was adjudged out for obstructing the field. She went for a sweep, but the ball went down the leg side to be called a wide. However, it ricocheted off wicketkeeper Kaushani Nuthyangana’s pads towards Dottin, who inexplicably tapped with the bat and caught it with one hand, prompting Sri Lanka fielders to appeal for the dismissal. Umpires Candace la Borde and Vrinda Rathi discussed and referred it to the third umpire, who ruled the batter out.

West Indies were 116 for 6 at the time of Dottin’s departure and were reduced to 119 for 7 in the next over as Aaliyah Alleyne walked back. Glasgow continued to fight from her end, adding 27 off 45 for the eighth wicket with Shawnisha Hector before the latter fell to a brilliant catch by Silva in the deep.

Glasgow was then involved in a 45-run stand for the ninth with Fletcher, but the latter fell to Ranaweera courtesy of another impressive effort in the field. Glasgow was the last to fall, finding cover where Dilhari took a juggling catch to stop West Indies 10 runs short.

Top run-scorer of the match

Top wicket-taker of the match

Player of the match

Vishmi Gunaratne

Gunaratne was the top-scorer in the match with her composed 58-run knock in 66 balls, including five fours. She held one end up despite wickets regularly falling at the other and was involved in two important partnerships with Harshitha Samarawickrama and Nilakshika Silva for the third and fifth wicket, respectively.