Sri Lanka A Women delivered a strong all-round performance to beat New Zealand A Women by 56 runs in the second T20 in Dambulla, taking a 2-0 lead in the series. The hosts built their innings through controlled partnerships before their bowlers kept striking regularly to dominate the chase.
Sri Lanka A Women started well through Sanjana Kavindi and Vishmi Gunaratne. Kavindi made 27 off 20 balls, hitting four boundaries, as the opening pair took the score to 44 before Jess Watkin dismissed her in the sixth over.
Gunaratne then anchored the innings with an unbeaten 57 from 49 balls, including four fours and two sixes. She shared a crucial 52-run stand for the second wicket with Vimoksha Balasuriya, who scored 33 off 27 deliveries with two boundaries and two sixes.
Piiumi Wathsala added 16 from 19 balls before Dewmi Vihanga gave the innings a late lift, smashing 14 not out from just three balls with two fours and a six. Sri Lanka A Women finished on 152/5 in 20 overs.
For New Zealand A Women, Jess Watkin was the pick of the bowlers with 2/26 from four overs. Hannah Rowe also claimed two wickets, while Fran Jonas picked up one.
Chasing 153, New Zealand A Women struggled to settle as Sri Lanka A Women struck early and kept the pressure on. Jess Watkin was dismissed for 1, while Kate Anderson made 11 and Bella James added 10, but the visitors could not build a strong partnership.
The middle overs proved decisive as New Zealand A Women slipped to 37/5. Emma Black offered resistance with 28 off 20 balls, while Hannah Rowe made 11 and Fran Jonas remained unbeaten on 10, but the chase ended at 96 in 19.5 overs.
Vihanga completed an excellent all-round display with figures of 3/19 in 3.5 overs. Chamudi Praboda supported her with 2/15 from four overs, while Rashmika Sewwandi, Sachini Nisansala and Shashini Gimhani also took wickets.
With the win, Sri Lanka A Women strengthened their grip on the series and underlined their depth with both bat and ball.
