Sri Lanka women’s cricket team led by Chamari Athapaththu will meet New Zealand women in their first ODI of the three match series today at McLean Park Napier, commencing at 6.30a.m (Sri Lanka time).

Before the ODI series Sri Lanka team got a chance to play two warm up games which gave good match practice to adjust to the conditions.

Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu said New Zealand tram is strong and we have to put up a challenge against them during this series as they have more youngsters and they have to get good experience playing in those conditions. I have previous experience in New Zealand having played matches also in franchise leagues but most important is to adjust to the conditions to get success in this series.

Weather conditions and ground conditions are different compared to our home conditions. Our team is ready to play good cricket during this series. Here in New Zealand more seam and bouncy wicket and our fast bowlers have to adjust to that and our senior fast bowler Udeshika Prabodhani will be missed this time due to hamstring injury and young Malki Madara the left arm fast bowler replaced her and this is a good opportunity to young Madara and hope she will do her best. The uncapped fast bowlers Chethana Vimukthi, 19 year old Rashmika Sewwandi and Achini Kulasuriya who have previous experience with the National team are the other fast bowlers of the side.

Skipper Athapaththu further said both Sri Lanka and New Zealand already qualified for the world cup and this series is very important for both teams. We had four months break but domestic cricket and practice matches gave good chance to players while myself was busy with league cricket which always give good exposure and we all are in good form to play this series. Half of the team is very young and this time we brought two under 19 players Manudi Nanayakkara and Rashmika Sewwandi both are good up and coming players who are talented while young opener Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kaveesha Dilhari also in good form and hope they will repeat their performances in this series said Skipper Chamari Athpaththu.

This is a good opportunity for our youngsters and they have to get more experience before world cup and we want to execute our plans to get success and every match always challenge to us especially playing in this conditions all players have to realize their duty to do their best concluded skipper Chamari Athapatthu who joined the team midway of the women’s Premier league (WPL) from India.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka team happy about their preparation with two warm up games before the ODI series.

The first warm up game Sri Lanka lost to New Zealand cricket President’s XI but Sri Lanka scored 244 all out in 49.4 overs. Vishmi Gunarane (61), Kaveesha Dilhari (48), Manudi Nanayakkara(34)Imesha Dulani (26) made useful contributions in this first game. The second warm up game Sri Lankan lasses won in which Vishmi Gunaratne (52), Manudi Nanayakkara((58) were among the runs. Sachini Nisansala had fine figures of 4 for 43 while Achini Kaushalya took 2 for 39 to get victory over New Zealand cricket Presidents X1.

Meanwhile experienced Suzie Bates will lead the New Zealand team in the absence of full-time ODI captain Sophie Devine, who is on a well-earned break Amelia Kerr will also miss the series as she is in India representing Mumbai Indians at the WPL.

New Zealand have picked a young uncapped trio of Emma McLeod, batter Izzy Sharp and left-arm seamer Bree llling for this series against Sri Lanka. The squad of 16 also sees the return of Georgia Plimmer after recovering from a bone stress reaction in her hip which had sidelined her since November.

Sri Lankan women will play the second and third ODI on March 7 and 9 followed by the T-20 series.

Sri Lanka women’s squad: Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Nilakshika Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani, Manudi Nanayakkara, Imesha Dulani, Achini Kulasuriya, Sachini Nisansala, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Inoshi Priyadarshini, Sugandika Kumari, Rashmika Sewwandi, Chethana Vimukthi, Malki Madara.

New Zealand squad: Suzie Bates (capt), Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing , Polly Inglis, Bella James, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Emma McLeod, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe.

(dailynews.lk)
(This story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)