SLW vs NZW Match Preview
Sri Lanka Women tinkered a bit with their batting order in the last match, but that did not yield desired results for the team. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu, who scored a scintillating century in the first match as an opener, came in at number 3 and was dismissed for a golden duck.
We are therefore likely to see her back in the opening slot along with Vishmi Gunaratne. Middle-order batters Harshitha Madavi, Anushka Sanjeewani, and Nilakshi De Silva were all seen struggling against a quality bowling attack from New Zealand.
They will need to play well if Sri Lanka wants to win again. All-rounders Kavisha Dilhari and Oshadi Ranasinghe add depth to batting.
Dilhari showed good form in the last match, scoring a gritty half-century, albeit for a losing cause. She will feature in the spin attack along with Inoka Ranaweera and Sugandika Kumari. Udeshika Prabodhani and Oshadi Ranasinghe will lead the pace attack, while Kawya Kavindi and Athapaththu will chip in during the middle overs.
The opening pair of Suzie Bates and Bernadine Bezuidenhout hasn’t been in the best of forms so far and will be looking to turn things around here by giving the team a solid start. Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine scored individual centuries in the last match, putting up a 229-run partnership for the 3rd wicket and setting the stage for New Zealand to reach a huge total.
This was the 3rd highest partnership for New Zealand W in ODIs, and the duo will hope to replicate that performance. Maddy Green, Georgia Plimmer, and Brooke Halliday make up for a strong middle order but they do not have much experience of playing in Sri Lankan conditions.
Lea Tahuhu bowled a brilliant spell in the last match, picking up 4 wickets for just 31 runs, and will lead the pace attack here along with Hannah Rowe and Devine. The spin attack consists of Fran Jonas, Eden Carson, and Amelia Kerr.
Weather Report
There is a forecast of rain here throughout the day and we can expect some delays or interruptions.
Pitch Report
The pitch at Galle is good to bat on and we can expect teams to put up a good score here. The surface is hard and offers a consistent bounce, allowing the batters to play their shots. However, as the match progresses, we will see the spinners come into action, while the quicker bowlers can expect some movement off the seam.
Notable stats
Inoka Ranaweera's economical bowling
Ranaweera has played 69 ODIs for Sri Lanka W so far, picking up 73 wickets. Her economy rate is pretty miserly at just 4.39 runs per over.
Team News
There are no updates regarding injuries from either side.
SLW vs NZW Probable 11
SLW Playing 11
- Chamari Athapaththu (C)
- Vishmi Gunaratne
- Harshitha Madavi
- Nilakshi de Silva
- Kavisha Dilhari
- Anushka Sanjeewani (Wk)
- Oshadi Ranasinghe
- Inoka Ranaweera
- Sugandika Kumari
- Kawya Kavindi
- Udeshika Prabodhani
NZW Playing 11
- Suzie Bates
- Bernadine Bezuidenhout (Wk)
- Sophie Devine (C)
- Amelia Kerr
- Maddy Green
- Georgia Plimmer
- Brooke Halliday
- Hannah Rowe
- Eden Carson
- Lea Tahuhu
- Fran Jones
Dream11 Prediction
We are backing New Zealand W to win here. They enjoy an excellent record against Sri Lanka W in ODIs and have dominated them in all departments. New Zealand W has some experienced players on the team who are capable of taking the game away from the opposition.
Top Picks
Kavisha Dilhari: Kavisha Dilhari has been a vital part of the Sri Lankan team over the past few years. She has scored 323 runs in her ODI career and has picked up 7 wickets.
Sophie Devine: A genuine all-rounder, Devine has scored 3486 runs so far and has picked up 91 wickets.
Amelia Kerr: Amelia Kerr has scored 1510 runs in ODIs at an average of 40.81 and has picked up 78 wickets with a bowling strike rate of 39.10.
SLW vs NZW Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: B Bezuidenhout
Batters: S Bates, M Green, V Rajapaksha-Gunaratne
All-rounders: C Atapattu (VC), S Devine, A Kerr (C), K Dilhari
Bowlers: I Ranaweera, L Tahuhu, U Prabodhani
